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How To Make Yogurt At Home

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If you live in a tropical country like i do, you may not have much trouble making yogurt at home. Its only during winters that making set curd or yogurt at home is a little tricky. However, if you live anywhere else where the mercury dips too low, then making yogurt can be pretty challenging. The idea of buying store bought yogurt simply doesnt appeal to me because of the wisdom that has been imparted to me about making yogurt at home. Honestly, if you keep in mind simple things while you make a batch of yogurt, then you will find that you have been throwing away money on those cups that you ve picked up from the supermarket shelves. Besides, nothing can beat homemade yogurt.

When i say simple things to keep in mind while making yogurt, i m talking about a live yogurt culture or a starter, the right temperature of the milk and the amount of culture you use. Many folks have the idea that the more culture you use, the better your yogurt sets. However, this is a very wrong notion. Now, lets come to culture itself. You have two ways to get that live culture- one buy some set yogurt from the store and go from there or two, add a chili stalk or two to 1/4 c of milk and let it stand till curdled and sour for about a day. You can also use a marble sized tamarind or 1/2 tsp vinegar too for making your starter. As for the temperature, the milk to which you add the yogurt must be warm enough so that you can dunk your fingers into for 15 secs at least without wincing. So, shall we go about making yogurt then?

How To Make Yogurt At Home From The Scratch ( Thayir- Dahi)
( Learn how to make thick set yogurt at home by yourself easily)
 
Prep Time: 30 mins
Setting Time: 12 hours to 24 hours 
Makes 500 g 
Allergy Info: Soy and Nut free
Cuisine: International
 
Ingredients
 
For The Starter
Milk 1/4 c
Vinegar 1/2 tsp ( see notes)
Salt a small pinch
(or)
Store bought yogurt 2 tbsp
For The Yogurt
Starter 2 tbsp
Milk 500 ml
Notes
In case you dont want to use vinegar, you use a marble size tamarind ball or 2 to 3 stalks of green chilies instead.
Directions
 
We have to make the starter first.
Heat 1/4 c of milk for about 2 mins.
To this add vinegar or tamarind or green chili stalks and a small pinch of salt and mix well.
Close with a lid and let it stand for 10 to 12 hours until the mixture turns sour.
Once the mixture is done, heat 500 ml of milk for making the yogurt.
Now comes the tricky part.
You must let the milk cool down to a temperature where you can dunk your fingers in and hold it in there for 10 to 15 secs. If you are able to dunk your finger in for longer, it means the milk is not warm enough for the curd to set
If you let the milk go too cold or if the milk is too hot to touch, the curd wont set well.
This cooling process takes approximately 20 to 30 mins depending on where you live and the current weather conditions.
Once the milk is in the right temperature, add 2 tbsp of the starter to it and mix well using a whisk or a wooden ladle.
Transfer this mixture to a clean vessel or a glass bowl and close with a lid.
Let it stand for 10 to 12 hours undisturbed. I prefer doing this overnight.
In case the place where you live is cold, leave the vessel in the oven with the lights on overnight. Make sure you post a note on the oven door indicating what s in there so that people dont disturb it!
After 10 hours, you shall have thick creamy luscious curd or yogurt to enjoy.
Notes
1. The creaminess of the curd also depends on the fat content in the milk that you choose. Choose milk that has medium amount of fat in it.
2. The curd may take slightly lesser time to set if you live in a warm place or if the weather is warm. Like say anywhere between 6 to 8 hours.
3. Its important not to disturb the mixture while it sets.
4. In case you live in India and you dont have an oven but its biting cold, use a hot pack or a casserole for setting the curd.
5. If the milk that you want to use to set the curd has already been boiled and cooled down, microwave it on high for about  2 to 3 mins. This will be perfect for setting the curd.
6. The water that you see on the top of the set curd is nothing but the water in the milk. You can simply mix this into the curd or discard it or use it as whey water.

How To Make Sprinkles At Home

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How To Make Sprinkles At Home

I often embark on crazy adventures, especially in my kitchen. That s how i made these sprinkles at home. The place where i live is not a baker s paradise. So finding fancy sprinkles and cake toppers have always been difficult. While i manage to get all the rudimentary stuff some where near my house, i have to travel almost an hour and a half if i ever run out of sprinkles. Not that we are big sprinkle fans. But, still.
Its only when i visit Coimbatore or Bangalore that i get to pick up some embellishments for all my baked goodies. One fine day, while i just wanted to bake a batch of these fragrant Vanilla cupcakes and frost them for a friend, i realised that my already teeny weeny container of sprinkles was over. I was immediately crest fallen, only to be cheered up by the fact that i had seen many recipes for sprinkles online a while back. Its then that i thought, why not make my own sprinkles? These sprinkles are eggless and really really easy to make. They are also inexpensive and you can easily make them into different shapes or sizes if you please. Do refer my notes for a few tips and tricks before you begin.

How To Make Sprinkles At Home
Recipe Type: Baking Embellishments
Cuisine: International
Author: Anusha Praveen
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 1 cup approx
Learn how to make sprinkles in all colors easily at home. An egg free recipe!
Ingredients
  • Confectioner s sugar 1 c ( Icing Sugar)
  • Corn starch 1.5 tsp
  • Lemon juice 1 tsp
  • Milk at room temp 2 to 3 tsp
  • Different food colors used in baking ( I used blue, pink, yellow, orange and green)*
  • Parchment paper
  • Piping nozzle size no.1*
  • Piping bag*
Instructions
  1. Sift the confectioner s sugar and corn starch together twice or thrice ensuring that there are no lumps.
  2. To this, add lemon juice and 2 tsp of milk in the beginning and mix well. While you may feel that the amount of liquid i ve mentioned here is ridiculously tiny, rest assured that it works well.
  3. Start with 2 tsp of milk. Use a electric beater and a whisk and whisk the mixture thoroughly.
  4. You must have a lump free batter. In case you feel the batter is too thick, add the remaining tsp of milk and whisk again.
  5. Now divide the mixture into equal parts based on the number of colors you are going to use.
  6. Add a drop of the respective food color into each of the divided part and mix well. Make sure you use different spoons for this. I still have a batch of sprinkles that are neither green nor pink.
  7. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
  8. Fill your piping bags with the icing mixture.
  9. Now, draw straight lines on the parchment paper by gently squeezing the bag. Just like how you would do a henna design.
  10. Dont worry if the lines get curvy or wavy. We are going to cut them up later so no sweat there.
  11. Now, let those colorful lines of icing dry for 24 hours.
  12. You may be tempted to cheat or take a short cut but its of no avail. They dont come off the sheet easily when they are not dried completely.
  13. Once dry, take them off the parchment sheet. They wont offer much resistance once fully dry. Try taking a small part out first and in case you find it too difficult, let it dry a little while more.
  14. Once you have them out of the paper, cut them with a very very sharp knife into small bits.
  15. Scoop them all up and store them in an air tight container.
Notes
You must let the mixture dry completely before taking it off the parchment paper.[br] In case you decide to add some flavors, add a drop of extract along with the food color. Be judicious when using food color as too much of it will not make the sprinkles too beautiful.[br] If you dont find parchment, use wax paper instead.[br] You can also use this icing recipe to ice your cakes and cookies in the regular way.[br] Feel free to experiment by making little dots or hearts when you pipe the mixture.[br]You may use any one food color to do the whole batch. I was making a huge batch ( out of sheer boredom and nothing else) and so used many colors. You can also experiment with flavors like vanilla or lemon or orange. I tried rose with the pink colored sprinkles and they were really awesome.[br] In case you dont have a piping bag, make small cones out of thin plastic sheets and use them to pipe these. I personally found that this works great when you have too many colors or a large batch to make

Falooda Recipe| Dessert Recipes

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I know its been a very very long while since i actually posted a recipe here. Somehow, i didnt feel upto doing a round up post for 2013. And i wanted to kick off the new year with a dessert. As a matter of fact, i wanted to post the recipe for carrot halwa as its winter here and those orange carrots are aplenty in the markets. But it seemed too ordinary a dessert suddenly.Its the devil in me talking by the way. And i had this Falooda calling out to me every time i open my folders on the comp. So i thought, its going to be get warmer in a few weeks.Why not some falooda fun?

What can i say about falooda except that its the first dessert that i tasted as a kid and it has always remained my top dessert choice, no matter where i go. I still remember eating falooda for the whole meal when i was taken out by my dad and mom. While i grew up, i somehow forgot about this amazing dessert. One day, suddenly, just like that, the craving to down a falooda hit me hard in the belly and from then on, its never ended. I made an attempt to make falooda at home a while back and i must say, it felt so good to gorge on more than one falooda.


 Falooda 
(Learn to make falooda, a dessert with assorted fruits, vermicelli and ice cream)
Prep Time:  10 mins plus 1 hour chilling time      Cook Time: 20 mins       Allergy Info: Contains nuts and milk                               
Cuisine: Indian                                                    Course: Dessert            Yields 2 large glasses
__________________________________________________________________________________
Ingredients

Milk 2 cups boiled and cooled.
Assorted fruits (apple, banana, strawberry, mango, pineapple, grapes) cubed 1 c
Vanilla ice cream 2 big scoops* ( see notes)
Nuts ( cashews, almonds) 2 tbsp*
Basil seeds 1 tbsp soaked in 1/2 c water.
Falooda sev 1/4 c*
Sugar 1/ 2 c
Rose syrup 2 tbsp

Notes

1. You can use any flavor of ice cream that you like. Feel free to experiment with two or three flavors. I ve tried mango and banana. Also mango and chocolate work well. In case you use a flavor other than vanilla, dont use rose syrup.
2. You can roast the nuts and add them.
3. Soak the basil seeds for 1/2 an hour.
4. In case you dont find falooda sev, use the very thin roasted vermicelli available in the market.
5. Dont use orange or other citrus fruits as they will make the falooda bitter.
6. Assemble the falooda just before serving.
7. You can also use any fruit jelly available in the market. Add the jelly after you place the fruits in the glass during the assembling.

Method

Preparation

Soak the basil seeds in 1/2 c of water for half an hour.
In the meanwhile, Cook the falooda sev as per instructions on the packet. Drain and let cool.
Boil milk and add sugar while it is still hot. Let cool completely.
Add rose syrup to the milk and mix well. Refrigerate.
Also, refrigerate the cup fruits too.

Assembly

To assemble the falooda, you need two tall  and considerable big glasses.
Divide the fruits, nuts, ice cream, basil seeds and sev into two portions.
Place the fruits in the bottom of one glass.
Now, add the sev.
Next add ice cream.
Add the soaked basil seeds to the top of the ice cream.
Sprinkle nuts and raisins.
Pour one cup of milk slowly from the sides.
Repeat with another glass.
Serve cold with a spoon and generous sprinkling of chocolate vermicelli if you desire.

Badam Milk Recipe| Winter Drink Recipes

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When i used to live in Bangalore, there was a sweet store near by where i lived. Now the reason why that sweet shop is still dear to me is because i have eaten my fair share of their samosas stuffed with golden cashews, raisins and bits of paneer. No samosa has ever lived up to that samosa. That one samosa which dint make you gag after eating just one. I could go eating about 6 samosas all at once. But what excited me more than the samosas was the badam milk that the place served. They had an option of serving it cold or hot. At that point in my life, i simply took to their cold version. Even though Bangalore was cold almost always, i somehow fancied the cold badam milk. Thick, creamy with bits of almonds enticing your mouth between a few gulps.

And i m not a fan of those powdered badam milk mixes available in the market. I find the flavor overpowering and its almost always full of every other ingredient but almonds. A while back, Mr. P who usually makes a run for it if someone so much as says M of milk, made an unusual request. He expressed his passion for badam milk. It came to me as a surprise but i was glad that he was taking to milk. So, i tried recreating my version of that badam milk that i used to devour in college days. Only, i served it hot as the weather is almost wintry here. This is a perfect welcome drink that can be made in advance for any party. The recipe is very forgiving. You can add as much or as less of any one ingredient. Ultimately, it all boils down to what you like. I mean, isn’t it the same for almost all recipes? Whoever says something has to be done only one way? Food is to relish and its no science, ain’t it?

Recipe: Badam Milk
Prep Time:Overnight   Cook Time: 10 mins          Allergy Info: Gluten free, Soy Free  
Cuisine: Indian                  Course: Drink that can be served at the beginning or end of a meal
Yields 500 ml     __________________________________________________________________________________
Ingredients

Almonds 1/2 c soaked overnight and peeled
Milk 500 ml ( I used full fat)
Sugar 3/4 c
Cardamom powder 1.5 tsp
Saffron strands a few
Pistachio slivers a few for garnish
Almond slivers a few for garnish

Directions

Remove 1/2 c of milk, bring it to a rolling boil and add saffron strands to it. Let it sit.
Now, add another 1/2 c of milk to the peeled almonds and grind to a slightly coarse paste.
Heat the remaining milk and sugar along with cardamom powder until the milk comes to a rolling boil.
Now add ground almond paste and mix well.
Add saffron flavored milk to this milk.
Top with pistachio and almond slivers just before serving.
Serve hot or cold.
But hot is my bet for these wintry days.

Note: Dont reheat the badam milk after making it. The milk will curdle.
Make sure you dont add too much cardamom or saffron or the almond flavor wont shine through.

Chama Dumpa Pulusu Recipe

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Chama Dumpa Pulusu is an Andhra style gravy made with Taro root. This s a vegan, gluten-free tangy gravy that tastes delicious with hot rice.

I had not eaten taro root or colocasia in any other form other than its deep fried roast curry. Now the taro root roast is a family favorite and is often made as an accompaniment with slightly bland kuzhambu or sambar. I usually make it with mor kuzhambu. The tang in the Mor Kuzhambu and the heat and crunch in the pan roasted taro roots make a wonderful combination.

Little did i realise that there was more to this tuber than met the eye. I visited a friend a while back for a casual lunch. Nothing exotic. Just comfort food, some old songs and aimless banter. And she had made this delicious taro root pulusu. I was awestruck at its simplicity. And delighted that there was one more way in which taro root can be enjoyed.

This Chama Dumpa Pulusu is an authentic Andhra dish and does not call for any grinding. The tang from the tamarind and the sweet hints from the jaggery blend well to make your tongue sing for more. Its a feast on those days when you want a hot and spicy dinner with steamed rice and papads.

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Chana Dumpa Pulusu

Andhra style gravy with taro roots.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Andhra, South Indian
Servings: 2

Equipment

  • Pressure cooker
  • Saute pan

Ingredients

  • 10 small Taro root
  • 3/4 c Tamarind extract from a gooseberry sized tamarind
  • 5 peeled and chopped Shallots
  • 1 tbsp finely chopped Garlic
  • 1/4 c finely chopped Tomato
  • 1 sprig Curry leaves
  • 2 slit Green chilies
  • 1 tsp Coriander powder
  • 1.5 tsp Chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp Turmeric
  • 1 tbsp Jaggery
  • 1 tsp Mustard seeds
  • 1 tsp Fenugreek seeds
  • 1/8 tsp Hing
  • 1 tsp Salt or to taste
  • 2 tbsp Oil
  • 2 tbsp Chopped coriander leaves

Instructions

  • Pressure cook the taro root for 2 whistles. Once done, peel and chop them into thin fingers.
  • Heat a pan with oil and pop the mustard seeds.
  • Add fenugreek, curry leaves and hing next.
  • Now, toss in garlic and onions and fry till transparent.
  • Add tomatoes next and fry till mushy.
  • Now add all the spice powders and turmeric and mix well.
  • Tip in the chopped taro root fingers and add the tamarind extract along with jaggery and salt.
  • If you the consistency too thick, add some water to achieve your desired thickness.
  • Mix well.
  • Cook covered for 10 mins on a medium flame.
  • Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
  • Serve hot with steamed rice and poppadoms by the side.

Notes

P.S: Addition of garlic is optional. You may leave it out.
Use sesame oil for added flavors.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Method :

Pressure cook the taro root for 2 whistles. Once done, peel and chop them into thin fingers.
Heat a pan with oil and pop the mustard seeds.
Add fenugreek, curry leaves and hing next.
Now, toss in garlic and onions and fry till transparent.
Add tomatoes next and fry till mushy.
Now add all the spice powders and turmeric and mix well.
Tip in the chopped taro root fingers and add the tamarind extract along with jaggery and salt.
If you the consistency too thick, add some water to achieve your desired thickness.
Mix well.
Cook covered for 10 mins on a medium flame.
Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
Serve hot with steamed rice and poppadoms by the side.

Recipe Notes

 Addition of garlic is optional. You may leave it out.
Use sesame oil for added flavors.

Coriander Diamond Cuts Recipe| Diwali Snack Recipes

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HOW TO MAKE CORIANDER DIAMOND CUTS?

 
Coriander Diamond Cuts- Namakpare flavored with fresh cilantro.
 

Diamond cuts were not a thing of my life until the year i started blogging. In our house, Diwali meant murukku, cheedai and mixture with an assortment of sweets that always included wheat halwa.

The year i began blogging was also the year of diamond cuts in the blogging circuit. Not being a diamond cuts person, i was not intrigued. But when diamond cuts continued to rein for 2 years after, i decided i must give it a shot.

Its one helluva beginner snack to try when you are just newly married and you have a husband to impress. But i wanted my version to be a little different than the regular diamond cuts.

When i came across this recipe in a cookbook that i have, i decided to give it a shot. And half the batch was gone by the time i finished making them. Thank god! i saved some for the pictures.

These coriander flavored diamond cuts are a twist to the classic diamond cuts recipe. The coriander, chilies and cumin create a flavor burst when you bite into the crunchiness. I plan to experiment with some other flavors the next time.

Maybe some fusion cooking- diamond cuts with basil or parsley?? For now, i m content munching on these diamond cuts and typing away the recipe.


Recipe for Coriander Diamond Cuts- Dhaniawale Namakpare

coriander diamond cuts
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Coriander Diamond Cuts

Easy Diwali Namkeen recipe with flour and cilantro.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Course: Snack
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • Maida 1 c
  • Salt 3/4 tsp
  • Cumin seeds 1 tsp
  • Ghee 1.5 tbsp sub with shortening or vanaspati for vegan version
  • Coriander leaves a small bunch picked and cleaned
  • Green chilies 6
  • Hing 1/4 tsp
  • Water to knead
  • Oil to deep fry

Instructions

  • In a blender, place coriander, salt, hing and green chilies and blend to a paste adding about 1 tbsp water.
  • In a mixing bowl, place maida and cumin and combine.
  • Make a well in the middle of the flour and add ghee.
  • Now add the coriander puree and combine well until the mixture resembles bread crumbs.
  • Sprinkle water little by little and knead into a dough that s like chapathi dough.
  • Make sure you dont add too much water or you wont get crunchy diamonds.
  • Once done, divide the dough into 5 parts and shape each part into a ball.
  • Heat oil for deep frying.
  • Take a ball of dough and roll into a thin chapathi. Probably as thin as you can get.
  • Make sure you have greased the rolling surface a wee bit before you do this.
  • Once you have rolled the ball, using a pizza cutter, make cuts horizontally and vertically across the chapathi, leaving even spaces between the strips.
  • I use a ruler and a pizza cutter to do this. You can also use a sharp knife.
  • Once done, check if the oil is hot. To do this, put a small ball of dough into the oil. If it rises up immediately, we are done.
  • At this stage, drop the small diamonds into the oil, a few at a time. Turn the flame to the lowest and fry for 2 to 3 mins until sizzling sound subsides.
  • Drain from oil once the diamonds are a golden brown.
  • Drain on a kitchen towel.
  • Let cool completely.
  • Store in an airtight container.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Rasgulla Recipe Using Pressure Cooker| Easy Diwali Sweets Recipes

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Rosgullas or Rasgullas. I really dont know how to pronounce them the right way. But i do know that they are deliciousness exemplified. I know few people who are not fond of these soft spongy delights. While the rosgullas are equally famous down south and everywhere else in India, many people dont know what goes into making them. Well, there are not many ingredients. But there is a lot of effort involved. It s a scary process for a beginner but my method here is actually a beginner s method. To be honest, the prospects of making rosgullas intimidated me too but i regained my spirits with this method. The traditional method of making rasgullas calls for cooking them on stove top while constantly adjusting flame and taking care to have a peep now and then. While my method is somewhat a blind cooking method, it works wonderfully well and results in soft spongy rasgullas. The only hitch in this is that the kitchen does get a wee bit messy. But oh! anything for the sake of some spongy goodness.

Before you begin making rasgullas, it is important to remember the technicalities involved. Never make rasgullas with buffalo milk or full cream milk. You will have rubbery balls and not rasgullas if you do. Its very important to knead chenna well. Curdle fresh milk and extract chenna. You must give enough space for the balls of chenna to double up in volume. Or you wont have spongy rasgullas. If you take care of all these things, primarily the milk, your work is pretty much done. The traditional bengali recipe doesnt call for addition of semolina. But i did add some to hold the dough together. Dont add more semolina than mentioned.  Also, the pressure cooking time mentioned is crucial. Dont over cook or under cook them while in the pressure cooker. The sugar syrup may splatter on your kitchen walls or on your platform so stay at a safe distance while its cooking. It is very important to use a cooker large enough to accommodate all the rasgullas as they swell up in volume while cooking.

Recipe: Rasgulla Using Pressure Cooker

Prep Time:1 hour                          Cook Time: 10 mins plus 12 mins             Yields 13 rasgullas                 
Cuisine: Bengali                             Course:Dessert                Allergy Info: Gluten And Nut Free
     __________________________________________________________________________________
Ingredients          

Cows milk 1.5 litres

Vinegar 1/2 c diluted with 1/2 c water
Ice cubes 15
Semolina 1 tsp

For The Sugar Syrup

Sugar 3 cups
Water 3.5 cups
Cardamom powder 1/2 tsp
Saffron strands a few (optional)

Method

Chenna:

Bring the milk to rolling boil. Once it boils, let cool completely and remove the cream that forms on the top. We must remove the fat completely to get soft rasgullas.
 Once done, heat the milk again and when it begins to boil, add diluted vinegar and keep stirring until it curdles completely.
Remove from fire.
Add ice cubes to the curdled milk and let rest for 10 mins.
Drain the whey completely using a colander and transfer the whey to a clean cotton cloth.
Tie the cloth into a bundle and hang it in a clean place where no water splashes for about 1/2 an hour. This to remove all the excess moisture.
After half an hour, remove the chenna from the cloth and transfer to a bowl.
Add semolina to the chenna and mix well.
Now, start kneading the chenna till it all comes together in a dough form without any cracks on the surface. This is the part where you require a lot of patience. But hey! remember , we are going to eat rasgullas at the end. ( wink)
I kneaded the chenna for about 10 to 12 mins until i got a smooth dough.
Once done, close with a moist clean cloth.

Sugar Syrup

Combine sugar, water and cardamom in a deep bottomed pressure cooker or pan.
In the meanwhile, divide the chenna into 12 equal parts and shape them into small balls without any cracks on the surface.
While doing this, make sure you keep the chenna not being rolled covered all the time.
Once you have shaped all the balls, heat the sugar syrup until sugar dissolves completely.
Wait for the syrup to begin boiling.

Rasgullas

Now, add the balls one by one gently into the sugar syrup.
Once you have added all the balls, close the pressure cooker with the lid and immediately put the pressure weight on.
Now, set a timer to 12 mins exactly. Not one minute more, not one minute less.
During this time, you may or may not get whistles from the cooker. Turn away from the cooker till the timer goes off. Read a book, fold clothes, sort laundry, do whatever but dont be tempted to switch off the stove in between or dont get alarmed at the number of whistles. You have to believe me in this.
Once the timer goes off and the 12 mins are up, switch off the stove immediately.
Place the cooker under slow running water ( i did this in my sink with the tap slowly turned on).
This is to release pressure immediately.
Once the cooker has cooled and pressure released, open the lid and transfer the rasgullas to a clean container or a vessel.
Sprinkle saffron strands on top.
Chill for an hour.
Serve immediately or keep chilled.
This keeps well for 3 days when refrigerated.

Gobi Musallam Recipe| Side Dish For Rotis

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I dont make curries that require a lot of time at home. I am a person who believes in little efforts but producing great food. So, when i came across the Gobi Musallam recipe, i was piqued. But at the same time, the efforts that would go into it were simply not like my style.

But you know how you get up and feel like doing something right away. That s how i felt the day i made Gobi Musallam. I woke up and it just felt like a Gobi Musallam day. And that sort of did it. I immediately set to work, making the gravy and cooking the cauliflower. We are cauliflower fanatics here. Plus its loaded with nutrients. This Gobi Musallam is something that will make a fine centerpiece on your table when you are hosting a dinner. But for the baking time, the efforts are actually minimal. I realised that when i had finished making the gravy in 15 mins flat. You can veganise it by subbing the cream with coconut cream. And you will have a beautiful deep red cauliflower on your table. I almost didnt have the heart to slice through.

Recipe: Gobi Musallam
Prep Time:  10 mins                        Cook Time: 40 mins                             Cuisine:   North Indian               Course: Side Dish                           Allergy Info: Gluten free, Soy Free, Egg Free, Can be Made Vegan
__________________________________________________________________________________

Ingredients

For The Gravy

Onions 2 medium chopped finely
Tomatoes 3 medium chopped finely
Garlic 4 cloves
Ginger 1 tbsp grated
Coriander cumin powder 1 tsp
Garam masala 1 tsp
Red chili powder 1.5 tsp
Turmeric powder 1 tsp
Kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves) 1 tbsp crushed
Cashews 7 to 8
Milk 1/2 c ( add diluted coconut milk for vegan version)
Cream 1/4 c ( add coconut cream for vegan version)
Salt to taste
Oil 2 tbsp

Coriander leaves for garnish 2 tbsp chopped finely

For The Cauliflower

Cauliflower 1 large head leaves and stems discarded
Deep baking dish 6″X3″ ( I used a 6″ cake tin)
Water 5 to 6 cups
Turmeric powder a large pinch
Salt 1/2 tsp

Directions

Bring 5 to 6 cups water combined with salt and turmeric to boil in a large pan that can sit the cauliflower easily without the water spilling over.
Place the cauliflower in the boiling water and blanch for 7 to 9 mins turning around once in a while.
Once done, drain water and set aside.
Heat a pan with 2 tbsp oil.
Add chopped onions, garlic and ginger and saute till onions turn pink.
Now, add all the spice powders and saute for 30 secs.
Tip in the tomatoes next along with cashews and kasuri methi and cook till tomatoes turn mushy and oil begins to separate. Takes 5 mins.
Let cool.
In a blender, blend to a smooth paste along with 1/2 c milk.
Once done, transfer to the same pan and simmer for 3 mins.
Add salt and cream and mix well.
If you find the gravy too thick, add 1/2 c water and simmer for another 3 mins.
Once done, check for seasoning and adjust if required.
In the meanwhile, preheat oven to 200 C.
In a deep baking dish, place the cauliflower head up.
Spoon the gravy over the cauliflower generously making sure it coats the entire head. It will flow down but that s absolutely fine. Make sure you reserve 1/3 of the gravy to pour in later.
Now, bake in the oven open for 25 mins until top turns golden.
You will find that the gravy turns a little brown. No need to panic at all!
Once done, remove from the oven and pour the remaining gravy over the baked cauliflower.
Garnish with coriander leaves.
Serve hot with some garlic herbed naan. Tuck in some lemon wedges and onion rings on the side.
Yumm……… delicious. I m already dreaming of making this again. ( wink! wink)

P.S Make sure you blanch the cauliflower well.
Its also important to pick the right cauliflower because they tend to have worms at times.
In case you dont have an oven, separate the florets, blanch and deep fry till golden. Then proceed with the gravy. Finally, drop the fried florets in the gravy. In case your cauliflower head is small, you can also fry it as a whole without the leaves and stems.

Savory Bread Pudding Recipe| Breakfast Recipes

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A few days ago, i was making breakfast for myself. I m actually a huge breakfast person. Lunch is what i hate. But a huge spread of breakfast that has cereal, bread, fruits or some steaming hot idlies and sambar is something that has me squealing with delight. Mr.P, not being a very breakfast person, we dont have such extensive breakfasts at home. While i m alone, i whip up something that suits my palate. And this savory bread pudding is something that i did when i was alone and was craving delish breakfast. This makes a fabulous start for a day. You simply put everything together the first thing in the morning, pop it in the oven and set about your tasks. You come back to a bowl full of yum with the goodness of some veggies and some tangy buttermilk.

Recipe: Savory Bread Pudding
Prep Time:  10 mins                         Cook Time: 10 mins plus 30 mins         Source: Adapted From Here                 
                                 
Cuisine:  American                               Course:   Breakfast                          Allergy Info: Nut free
     __________________________________________________________________________________

Ingredients
                     
Bread Slices 4
Onion 1 small chopped finely
Tomatoes 2 med chopped finely
Carrot 1 small peeled and grated
Chili powder 1 tsp
Garam Masala 1/8 tsp
Coriander powder 1/2 tsp
Coriander leaves 1 tbsp chopped finely
Sour buttermilk 1 c
Salt to taste
Oil 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp
Butter or oil for greasing a deep baking dish

Directions

Preheat oven to 200 C.
Heat a pan with oil.
Pop the mustard and add the onions.
Cook till transparent.
Add grated carrot next and cook for a min.
Now, add tomatoes and all the spice powders.
Cook till tomatoes turn mushy.
Add coriander leaves and mix well.
Take a small deep baking dish and grease with some butter or oil.
Dip a bread slice in the buttermilk for 5 secs and place in the dish.
Take about 1.5 tbsp of the onion tomato mixture and spread evenly over the bread slice.
Take another bread slice and dip in the buttermilk and cover.
Spread the onion tomato mixture again.
Repeat with the remaining bread slices and onion tomato mixture.
Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 mins until top is dry and golden brown.

Once done, let cool for 10 mins.
Slice and serve hot or dig in as it is.
Tastes best when eaten hot.

Mushroom Cheese Sandwich Recipe| Sandwich Recipes

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I dont have much to say about this sandwich except that it is one mean sandwich. You eat it and you will feel guilty as hell later. Its loaded with cheese and mayo and its certainly not for those watching the waist line. At least not on a regular basis. But the downside to this sandwich is that, once you make it, you crave for it again and again and eventually end up making it twice or thrice in a row. That s what i did. 

Mr.P hates mushrooms with a passion. He hates cheese too. So i rarely get to make such sandwiches at home. When i do get such an opportunity, i grab it quickly. I did get one such chance the last week, when it was just me for lunch. So, i put together these sandwiches which were totally delightful. Whoever said chocolate is decadence? Let them eat these mushroom cheese sandwiches first!
Recipe for Mushroom Cheese Sandwich
( Grilled sandwiches with mushroom and cheese filling)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Makes 2 sandwiches

Ingredients
Bread slices 4 ( feel free to use whole wheat or multigrain bread)
Butter 2 tbsp
Mozarella cheese 4 tbsp grated
For The Filling:
Mushrooms 10 to 15 chopped finely 
Onion 1 small chopped finely 
Garam masala powder 1/2 tsp
Red chili powder 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder 1/2 tsp
Oil 1 tbsp
Salt to taste
For The Spread
Mayonnaise 3 tbsp
Coriander leaves 1 tbsp chopped finely 
Directions
Heat a pan with 1 tbsp oil.
Add onions and fry till transparent.
Now add all spice powders and saute for 30 secs.
Tip in the mushrooms next and fry till wilted completely. Takes about 2 to 3 mins
Add salt and mix well.
Set aside.
There, your filling is done.
Combine mayo and coriander leaves in a bowl.
Take a bread slice and apply 1 to 1.5 tbsp of spread generously.
Now, divide the filling into two and place one portion over the bread slice and spread evenly.
Sprinkle half of the mozarella cheese evenly over the filling.
Close with another slice of bread.
Repeat with the remaining filling and two slices.
Butter the bread generously (ahem…..) 
Grill in a sandwich maker or use a girdle and cook till cheese has completely melted and the bread slices have turned a golden brown.
Serve hot with tomato ketchup.
P.S. This is not a lunch box sandwich. It tends to lose the crunch once it cools down.
You can also add a bell pepper to the filling.
Cream cheese or hung curd can also be used instead of mayo.
Feel free to decrease or increase the amount of cheese used. 
Other sandwiches that you may want to try from here

Carrot And Apple Smoothie Recipe| Smoothie Recipes

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If its just me for breakfast at home, i always turn to a smoothie. Its easy, quick and filling all at the same time, guilt free. I sometimes make a smoothie to supplement a light breakfast. Its usually when i make a sandwich or some kanda batata poha. I made a sandwich a few days back and made this smoothie along with that. This is a milk free smoothie but its filling because of the fruit involved. It can be made ahead and chilled to be enjoyed as a drink any time of the day.


Recipe For Vegan Carrot Apple Smoothie

Print Recipe
4.67 from 3 votes

Carrot Apple Smoothie

Filling and nutritious breakfast smoothie with the goodness of celery, cinnamon and ginger
Prep Time10 minutes
Chilling Time1 hour
Course: Beverage
Cuisine: International
Servings: 2

Equipment

  • Blender

Ingredients

  • 1 c peeled and chopped apples
  • 1 c peeled and chopped carrots
  • 1/4 c chopped celery sticks
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon powder
  • 1 tsp Ground ginger
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
  • 2/3 c water

Instructions

  • Put apples, carrot and celery along with cinnamon powder, ground ginger and maple syrup or honey in a blender.
  • Pulse this for a few times to break down the pieces.
  • Now, add the water and blend to a smooth puree.
  • Chill until ready to serve.
  • This smoothie tends to separate while sitting in the fridge.
  • Mix well before serving.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Recipe Notes

You can also add a cucumber to this smoothie to make it more refreshing.

Other smoothies that you may want to try from here are
Strawberry smoothie
Cherry And Banana Smoothie

Calzones With Peas Filling Recipe| Yeast Bread Recipes

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Calzones became all the rage a few years back when a pizza chain introduced it. Technically, its nothing but leftover pizza dough that s filled with a filling that includes meat or veggies or a combination of both, a sauce and some cheese. Its then baked just like any other bread. It makes a wonderful meal as a breakfast or as an after school snack. They have been on my baking bucket list for a long time now.

When Avant Garde Cookies chose novel Navratri as the theme for this month s first week, i considered many options. I thought of making some rice crispie bars that are very similar to our pori urundai. But finally, i settled on these calzones. Unlike the usual calzones, this has no sauce. But its got cheese. Yes, a calzone cant not have cheese.
The dough used for these calzones can be used to make a pizza or a stromboli too. It freezes well and can be made a day ahead. Plus it doesnt require all that resting that s usually involved in a pizza dough recipe. I chose my filling as a sundal. A sundal is nothing but beans or legumes stir fried. I made some changes to a basic sundal recipe and adapted it to suit this recipe. It worked very well, i must say. Give it a shot.

Recipe For Calzones with Peas Filling
( Calzones from the scratch with a peas filling)

Prep Time: 8 hours for soaking the peas
                  1 hour for the first rise of the dough
                  30 mins for the second rise
                   10 mins for the rest
Cook Time: 30 mins for the filling 
                   30 mins for the calzones
Makes 4 medium size calzones
Allergy Info: Egg free

Ingredients

For The Calzone Dough:

All purpose flour 192 g (1.5 c)
Olive oil 2tbsp
Instant yeast 2 tsp
Sugar 1 tsp
Salt 1 tsp
Warm water 1/2 c

For The Filling:

Dried green peas 1.5 c
Any curry powder of your choice 1.5 tsp
Mustard seeds 1 tsp
Urad dal 1 tsp
Oil 1 tbsp
Salt a small pinch
Feta cheese 3 tbsp crumbled
Coriander leaves 2 tbsp chopped finely

Milk for brushing the dough 2 tbsp

Directions

Soak the peas overnight. The next day, pressure cook for 3 whistles adding 3 cups of water.
Once done, drain the water completely.
Heat a pan with oil.
Pop the mustard and add urad dal.
Once the dal browns, add the peas, curry powder and salt and cook for a minute.
Set aside.
Now, lets make the dough.
In a bowl, combine yeast, sugar and warm water.
Mix well.
Let sit until frothy.
In a big mixing bowl, add 1 c flour and salt and mix well.
Now make a well in the middle and add olive oil and yeast mixture.
Mix until everything just comes together.
You will have a shaggy mass of dough now.
Add the remaining flour and start kneading.
You may need more flour or less depending on the dough.
You must have a tacky smooth dough that s slightly sticky.
Once done, let it rise until double in volume.
Once double, punch the dough down.
Divide the dough into four pieces.
Take the filling and add the crumbled feta cheese and coriander leaves.
Mix well.
Take a piece of dough and shape into a ball.
Transfer to a slightly floured surface and roll into a 9″ circle.
Place 1/4th of the filling on one half of the circle.
Now, close the other half over the filling .
Bring together the edges and seal the calzone.
Repeat with the remaining pieces of dough.
Cover with a clean moist cloth and let rise until almost double in volume.
Towards the end of the second rise, preheat oven to 220 C.
Once the calzones are almost risen, brush with milk generously.
Bake in the oven for 30 mins or until golden brown.
Remove and let cool for 20 mins.

Once cool, tuck in.

P.S. I plan to use a tomato chutney as a sauce the next time i make this. In case you try it that way, let me know.
You can alternately make calzones with some pizza sauce and pizza toppings too.

Coriander & Spring Onion Thogayal Recipe| Dips And Spreads Recipes

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Oh the bliss of eating steaming hot rice, a generous dollop of ghee and some spicy thugayal is simply indescribable. It can only be experienced. And once one experiences it, its difficult to continue life as before. Now, what i really love about thugayal is that it not only tastes great with rice but also serves well as an accompaniment for flat breads, dosas and sometimes double up as spreads for sandwiches.

The reason why this blog doesnt have many thugayal recipes is that i dont consider them photogenic. Bah! there i said it. I mean, i know its not a reason- not photogenic. But still, yes that s why i dont share thugayal recipes here. But i must overcome my thought. There s no such thing as not photogenic when it comes to food. Anything can be made appetizing in a photo with the right props and shooting in the right angle. This thugayal is a start in that aspect for me. Plus i love this thugayal for its flavors. Its an unusual combination of sorts but works beautifully once everything comes together. You can enjoy this with hot rice or some crispy dosas. Either way, it works like a charm.

Recipe For Coriander And Spring Onion Thugayal
(Dip made with coriander and spring onions)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 2 mins
Serves 2 generously 
Allergy Info: Vegan

Ingredients

Coriander leaves 1 c chopped finely
Spring onions 2 stalks green and white parts chopped finely
Mint leaves 10
Urad dal 2 tbsp
Tamarind pulp 1 tsp
Dry red chilies 3 to 4
Green chilies 2 chopped finely
Oil 2 tsp
Salt to taste

To Temper:

Oil 1 tsp
Mustard seeds 1 tsp
Hing a small pinch
Curry leaves a sprig

Directions

In a pan, heat 1 tsp of oil and fry urad dal and dry red chilies till dal turns golden.
Set aside.
Heat 1 tsp of oil in the same pan and add spring onions and green chilies.
Fry till wilted slightly.
Now add coriander and mint leaves and fry till wilted.
Let cool.
Once cool, add the roasted urad dal, red chilies, mint, coriander, spring onions and green chilies to a blender.
Now, add salt and tamarind.
Grind to a coarse paste using little or no water.
Transfer to a clean dry bowl or container.
Heat a pan with 1 tsp.
Pop the mustard and add hing and curry leaves.
Add this to the ground paste.
Mix well.
Thugayal is ready to be served.

We had it with hot rice, ghee and some tomato raita.
You may also want to try my
Ridge gourd thugayal
Paruppu thugayal
Coriander coconut thugayal

Moong Dal Shorba Recipe| Easy Soup Recipes

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Shorba. Now what s a shorba? Its nothing but soup and comes from the Arabic word Chorba. Now chorba finds a way into many tables across the globe- Romania, Russia and some parts of Central Europe and Asia. ( Source: Wiki) I have been treated to some of the best shorbas ( vegetarian versions) while in Bangalore. This moong dal shorba is my version of a hearty shorba that s vegan and healthy. Its filling and at the same time, can be enjoyed with some steamed hot rice too. Add some freshly baked croutons and the shorba reaches new heights. That s what i did anyway.


Recipe For Moong Dal Shorba
( Lentils and veggies stewed into a thin soup. Serves as an appetiser.)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Serves 2 
Allergy Info: Vegan

Ingredients
Moong dal 1/2 c
Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp
Onion 1 chopped finely
Tomato 1 chopped finely
Carrot 1 peeled and cubed
Beans 5 chopped finely
Garlic 3 to 4 cloves
Green chilies 2 to 3
Oil 2 tsp
Jeera 1 tsp
Hing a small pinch
Salt to taste
For Garnish
Coriander leaves 2 tbsp chopped finely
Lemon juice from 1/2 a lemon
Directions
In a small pressure cooker, heat oil and crackle cumin seeds.
Now add green chili, onion and garlic and fry till light brown.
Add tomato, hing, turmeric and all veggies and mix well.
Saute for 2 mins.
Add salt.
Add 2 cups of water and pressure cook for 5 to 6 whistles.
Once done, using an immersion blender blend the dal mixture to a smooth puree.
Add about 2 cups water and bring the mixture to a boil.
Garnish with coriander leaves.

Squeeze lemon juice just before serving and serve immediately with croutons.

Indo Chinese Bell Pepper Sandwich Recipe| Sandwich Recipes

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Growing up, i was never treated to sandwiches. My mother thought it a paltry meal that can only cater to my snacking hours. No, let me think. Even snacking didnt include sandwiches. Snacks included deep fried murukku, fruit salad, chaat or hot and spicy vegetable puffs from the nearby bakery. Amma definitely has something against sandwiches. Even today, she disapproves of me making sandwiches and eating them for lunch or breakfast. But obviously, i come from a different school of thought. I love sandwiches because they are filling and can be made in a jiffy. But what takes the cake here is that you can make it in so many different ways and sneak in any veggies that you want. In my case, i sneak in cheese cos Mr.P loathes cheese but it escapes his notice in a sandwich.

Lets talk some about today s sandwich. Now, if you all thought sandwiches are only synonymous to grilled cheese and pesto, i am about to change that thought. I dont follow recipes for a sandwich. Even salads too. I add what comes to my mind and strikes my fancy. And i have surprised myself each and every time. Because of the out come. This sandwich recipe is an indo chinese sandwich that i put together for lunch. The flavor burst simply took my tongue over. The soy and chili sauce lends a sharpness and heat to the sandwich but is balanced wonderfully by that cream cheese. The mint shines through all of this, making you crave for some more. Its not something one would normally come across in a sandwich stall but its something that you will love. As a snack box treat. As breakfast. As that tea time bite.

Recipe For Indo Chinese Bell Pepper Sandwich
( Sandwiches with bell peppers and indo chinese sandwich spread)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Serves 2 

Ingredients

Sandwich bread slices 6 divided
Tomato 1 large sliced
Green bell pepper 1 small sliced
Butter 2 tbsp

For The Spread

Cream cheese 1/2 c softened
Mint leaves 10 shredded
Green chili sauce 1 tbsp ( I used Ching’s)
Soy sauce 1.5 tsp( I used Ching’s)
Oregano 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste

Directions

In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients for the spread and mix well.
Apply 1 tbsp of spread on one slice of bread evenly.
Place a few slices of tomato and bell pepper.
Cover with one more slice.
Again apply the spread on the top slice.
Place bell pepper slices and tomato slices and place another slice over the slice.
Repeat with the remaining three slices of bread and spread.
Apply butter on both the sides of the sandwich and grill.
Alternatively, you can toast them on a griddle too.

Serve hot with ketchup.
This is sandwich 1 for our Palooza In A Pan this month. We are making sandwiches and some fun stuff with muffin tins. Stay tuned.

Godhuma Ladoo Recipe| Easy Navratri Recipes

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While its customary to offer sundal to guests frequenting homes during navratri, my mom used to pack some sweet treats for the little kids and decked up girls who come to take thambulam. I also remember my mom giving small trinkets along with the thambulam. These sweet treats usually were some kind of ladoo, a rava ladoo or some kadala urundai or this godhuma ladoo that my grandma used to make so well.

I still remember the delicious ladoos that grandma used to roll out. Her version used to have little bits of coconut, some nuts and raisins. All flavored with a good amount of cardamom. My version of godhuma ladoo is only a paltry attempt to recreate that magic. For, no one in this whole wide universe can make godhuma ladoo like my grandma. I made a small batch a few days back as i was not sure how Mr.P would receive it. But he surprised me by finishing off the batch in two days. This ladoo keeps well for 3 to 4 days when kept outside. It makes a perfect treat to pack off for your little guests.

Recipe For Godhuma Ladoo
( Ladoos with whole wheat flour, jaggery and ghee)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Yields 12 ladoos

Ingredients

Whole wheat flour 1 c
Jaggery 1 c powdered
Water 3 tbsp
Cardamom powder 1 tsp
Cashews 3 tbsp broken
Raisins 2 tbsp
Ghee 1/4 c melted
Almond slivers for topping

Directions

In a pan, heat all of the ghee except 1 tbsp.
Add cashews and fry till golden.
Remove and set aside.
Add raisins next and fry till they fluff up. Drain and set aside.
Now, add the whole wheat flour to the pan.
Swiftly combine ghee and wheat flour until well incorporated.
Now, turn down the flame to a low medium.
Saute the wheat flour until golden brown and aromatic.
This takes 15 to 20 mins. Make sure the flame is always low and keep stirring continuously.
Keep stirring and dont move away from the pan or the wheat flour will burn quickly.
Once done, transfer the wheat flour to a pan.
Add cardamom, nuts and raisins to this wheat flour and mix well.
In the same pan, add jaggery and 3 tbsp of water.
Heat the jaggery until melted completely.
We are not making jaggery syrup here. We are only melting the jaggery.
Remove the jaggery immediately once it melts completely.
I get very good jaggery here. So i dint bother filtering the jaggery.
You may filter it if you are not sure about your jaggery quality.
Add the melted jaggery to the wheat flour.
Using a spoon, mix the jaggery and wheat mixture until it all comes together into a dough.
Dont panic if the mixture is a bit loose and shaggy.
It will harden as it cools down.
Once the mixture is warm enough to handle, apply ghee on your palms.
Take some mixture and shape into a ladoo.
Repeat for the entire mixture.
Place the ladoos on a parchment paper lined plate.
Gently place some almond slivers on the ladoos.
Let sit for 2 hours.
It will harden once cool completely.

Wheat ladoos are ready to pack for your guests.

Mixed Bean Sundal Recipe| Navrathri Recipes

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I wanted to post a couple of navratri recipes a little before the nine days of festive fun begins. But rains wreaked havoc around here and getting anything at all became very difficult. While Navrathri in Gujarat is synonymous to garbas, colorful lehengas and music all night, parts of South India celebrate the nine days in a different fashion. We have a display of dolls called golu in many houses and each day of the Navrathri is dedicated to one of the Devis. Young girls deck up prettily and visit each other s houses, where they are given a thambula and some sundal to munch on. Some people even give small gifts to the pretty girls. And this is not just for the girls. Its for the women too. It s indeed a lot of fun when Navratri arrives, wherever you are in India.

As a kid, i ve seen my mom arrange her display of dolls and then the million dollar question will be posed by my dad. ” What s for prashad today?” my dad would innocently ask. And that would send my mom in frenzy. Finally she would decide on one sundal or a sweet treat. Sweet treats were usually made to order. Yes, my mom and i are so unlike when it comes to this one thing! Sundal, she would make. Yummy, protein rich sundals laden with coconut. People usually make sundal with one kind of beans. But i ve used many kinds in this sundal for a change. We get this mixed bean packets here and they come in handy when its Navratri.

Recipe For Mixed Bean Sundal
( Legumes stir fried and seasoned with coconut)

Prep Time: 6 hours soaking time
Cook Time: 20 mins
Serves 3 to 4 generously
Allergy Info: Vegan, Gluten free

Ingredients

Mixed beans ( I used garbanzo, chickpeas, white peas, green peas, black eyed beans, mung beans and cow peas) 1.5 c
Freshly grated coconut 1/2 c
Freshly grated ginger 1 tsp
Green chilies 10 to 12 minced finely
Curry leaves a sprig
Mustard seeds 1 tsp
Urad dal 1 tsp
Hing a small pinch
Oil 2 tbsp
Salt to taste

Directions

Soak the beans in 4 cups of water overnight or for 6 hours min.
The next day, they would have swollen and doubled in volume.
Pressure cook the beans with some salt and 3 cups of water for 2 to3 whistles until cooked but not mushy. Take care not to overcook the beans or the sundal wont have a nice appearance.
Once done, drain water completely from the cooked beans.
Heat a pan with oil.
Pop the mustard and add urad dal, green chilies, curry leaves and hing.
Once the dal browns, add the cooked beans and salt and mix well.
Now add grated coconut to this  and mix well.
Remove from heat immediately.

Serve hot or warm. It goes well even as a side dish with rice and curry.
P.S. The amount of each bean is completely personal preference. Add how much ever you want of each kind. I get them readily mixed.
As this is served as an offering to Goddess, no onion is added. But you may add onion in case you make it on an ordinary day.
Beans usually cause flatulence. So dont skip the ginger.

Khaliat al Nahal Recipe| Yeast Bread Recipes

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I m thanking my stars for making this bread much before. Had i planned to bake this beauty called Khaliat Nahal later, i d not have seen much success. For it seems, the place where i live is going to be blessed with torrents of rain for the next few weeks. Rain that darkens room and makes you just crave for a warm bowl of soup. That bad! And so humid that you simply cant put a decent ball of dough together. You just want to add something or the other into a pan, mix, put it on the table and call it food.

Now, coming back to Khaliat Nahal. For me, the name itself sounds exotic enough. It translates into bee hives in Arabic because the buns are baked in such a fashion. Small balls placed close to one another. They then swell up when they bake and when you pull the tin out, you have a beautiful honey comb looking bread. It s generally sweet. A sweet syrup is poured over the buns once they are baked. And the filling is cream cheese and assorted nuts.  Aparna of our We Knead To Bake fame, set this recipe for this month and she gave us a savory option too. Because we are not very sweet toothed people, i made the savory version. They are little pillows of yum. That s all i can say.

Recipe For Khaliat al Nahal
( Recipe for Honey comb pattern buns with a savory filling)

Prep Time: 15 mins for the dough 
                  1 hour for the first rise
                  45 mins for the second rise
Cook Time: 5 mins for the filling
                   20 to 25 mins for baking at 180 C
Source:  Adapted slightly from here
Allergy Info: Egg free

Ingredients

Flour 1.5 cups
Garlic paste 1 tsp

Lukewarm milk 1/2 cup
Instant yeast 3/4 tsp

sugar 1/2tsp
Salt 1 tsp
Unsalted butter 20 g melted
Milk 1 tbsp for brushing the dough
Sesame seeds for sprinkling 
For The Filling
Bell peppers 1 small chopped finely 
Onion 1 smalll chopped finely 
Red chili powder 1/4 tsp
Garam masala a pinch 
Salt to taste
Oil 1 tsp
Cumin seeds 1/2 tsp
Directions:
You can make the whole thing in a food processor too. I dont own one so i used my hands. 
Cool down the melted butter a wee bit.
In a big bowl, add flour and salt . Begin with a cup of flour.
Combine well using a hand whisk or sieve.
Now, add melted butter  and garlic paste to this and rub it into the flour until it resembles bread crumbs. Just like you would do for pie dough.
In a bowl, combine milk, sugar and yeast. Let it rest for 5 mins until it turns frothy.
Once done, add this to the flour mixture and knead until it all comes together into a elastic and slightly sticky dough. Add the remaining flour gradually to achieve this consistency.
You are looking at a smooth and soft ball of dough that s slightly sticky. It took me about 5 to 7 mins of kneading to achieve this. In case you have a food processor, it will take much less time.
Once done, cover with a clean damp kitchen towel and let it rise until double in volume. This will take anywhere between an hour to two depending on the weather.
In the meanwhile, get the filling ready.
Heat oil in a pan.
Add cumin and once it crackles, add bell pepper and onion.
Fry till onions turn a golden brown.
Add all spice powders and salt.
Mix well.
Set aside.
Once the dough has risen, deflate the dough and transfer to a lightly floured work surface.
Make a rope of the dough that s approx 9″ long.
Now divide the rope into nine 1″ pieces.
Take each piece and roll into a ball.
Flatten the ball into a disc.
Place 1/2 tsp of the filling on the disc and bring together the edges of the disc and pinch them.
Again gently shape it into a ball.
Grease a 6″ round cake tin with oil.
Place the ball in the tin along the edges.
Repeat the same with the remaining dough balls.
Place them about 1/2″ apart. Once the outer edge fills up, place them inside the outer ring of dough balls.
Once done, cover with a damp kitchen towel and let them rise until slightly double in volume.
You will know its done when you see the dough balls almost touching each other.
Towards the end of the second rise, preheat oven to 180 C.
Now, brush the balls with a tbsp of milk.
Sprinkle sesame seeds generously on the top.
Bake for 20 to 25 mins or until tops turn golden brown. Mine took 18 mins exactly.
Once done, let cool in the tin for about 10 mins.
Invert and cool further on a wire rack.
Dig in once considerably warm.
Dont forget to make that mug of coffee.

Chili Garlic Noodles Recipe| Chinese Recipes

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I am going to sound like a politician in my next few sentences but i really dont know how else to put it. India is a country that accepts things fast and this applies to everything from clothes, gadgets to food. Food, mainly. I still remember the time when pizzas became all the rage and it still is one of the most liked foods by many Indian children. While we welcomed Italians and their pizzas, we dint say no to the Chinese either. We have chinese everywhere here. Only, it s not the way a Chinese would really eat. It s the way Indians would eat Chinese. The original recipes have been tweaked ( God knows how many times!) to suit Indian palates and needless to say, the word chinese is etched strongly in all food lovers’ minds. Today, Indo Chinese food is widely sought and the most common of all are the hakka noodles. While everyone thinks that making noodles calls for a list of ingredients that is as long as an elephant s trunk ( Ok, so i dint want to mention the Nile, i wanted something realistic this time.), it s definitely not that complex. You will be surprised that you can make an equally good bowl of noodles without much chopping, a million sauces and kinds. This recipe for Chili Garlic Noodles is going to prove just that.


Recipe For Chili Garlic Noodles
( Noodles flavored with red chilies and garlic)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Serves 2

Ingredients

Vegetable Hakka Noodles 1 packet ( I used Ching s)
Onions 2 med sliced thinly
Garlic cloves 2 minced finely
Red chili sauce 1/2 tbsp
Dark soy sauce 1 tps
Schezwan fried rice masala 1 tsp ( I used Chings, 5 bucks for a sachet)
Sesame Oil 1 tbsp ( Feel free to use vegetable or olive oil)
Salt to taste

Directions

Cook noodles according to packet instructions. Remember all noodles are al dente. So cook them for a maximum of three mins and not more that.
Drain the water and wash the noodles under running water.
Now, wash the noodles with cold water and let the water completely drain.
Heat oil in a pan. I used sesame oil to give some enhanced taste but feel free to use any oil.
Add onions and garlic and fry till light brown.
Now add the schezwan fried rice masala and cook for 30 secs.
Add the sauces and mix well.
Add salt keeping in mind that the sauces already have some salt in them
Now, toss the noodles into this and turn the flame to the lowest.
Mix well until the mixture coats the noodles well.

Serve hot with ketchup. Tastes best when eaten hot.

Blueberry Plain Cake Recipe| Eggless Cake Recipes

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Have you heard of Dorie Greenspan? I m not sure about her recipes but i love the way she presents them. No wonder she wrote for Julia Child. I mean, Julia! I dont know when i got on first name basis with her, but hey! she s my trustworthy friend when it comes to baking a french apple pie or some croissants or this crumbly, soft and slightly sticky cake with pints of blueberries in them.

I live in India. So i dont find fresh blueberries. I do get frozen ones and i found some the other day while meandering in the supermarket aisles. It was reasonably prized. So i picked one, came home, scoured for recipes and made this cake. There. I said it. I said it all. I made some slight variations to the original recipe but it was such a sell out, you wont believe it if i say it was gone in less than an hour of baking. Hot and all. Sigh!

Recipe For Blueberry Plain Cake
( Crumbly cake with blueberries)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Source: Adapted from here
Makes 2 small loaves
Allergy Info: Egg Free

Ingredients

Flour 3/4 c
Baking powder 1 tsp
Salt a small pinch
Sugar 3/4 c powdered
Milk 1/4 c
Yogurt 1/4 c thoroughly whisked
Vanilla 1/2 tsp
Unsalted soft butter 1/4 c melted
Fresh blueberries 1/2 c or frozen berries thawed 1/2 c

Directions

Preheat oven to 190 C for 10 mins.
In a mixing bowl, sieve all dry ingredients except sugar and combine well using a whisk.
Add the berries to this and mix well making sure the flour coats the berries fully.
In another bowl, place butter, vanilla, curd and milk and whisk thoroughly.
Add sugar to this and mix again until well incorporated.
Grease 2 mini loaf pans or one 6″ round cake tin with some butter.
Pour the mixture half way till the pans. In case you are using loaf pans, divide the batter between the both making sure the pan is only half full.
Tap pan gently on the counter.

Bake for 25 to 30 mins or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.

Cherry Tomato Frittata Recipe| Breakfast Recipes

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A while ago, i was making all single serve breakfasts. Mr.P was out on some official work and he was not around. So it was the perfect excuse to make something that satisfies my palate. After making this delicious roasted cherry tomato pesto, i had some tomatoes left over that i wanted to use up. And this thought came upon me only that morning when my tummy was growling for a scrummy breakfast. I decided to make a frittata for one. I enjoyed the frittata so much that i immediately regretted not making more. This frittata can easily be doubled or tripled and makes a delicious brunch too.


Recipe For Cherry Tomato Frittata
( Frittata with roasted cherry tomatoes and veggies)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 40 mins
Serves 1 
Allergy Info: Nut free

Ingredients

Eggs 3 medium
Bell pepper 1 small chopped finely
Roasted cherry tomatoes 1/4 c
Milk 1/4 c
Parmesan cheese 2 tbsp grated
Pepper 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Coriander leaves 2 tbsp chopped finely
Oil 1 tsp

Directions

Preheat oven to 180 C.
Grease a deep baking dish with oil.
In a bowl, add eggs, milk, cheese, pepper and salt and whisk till frothy and light. Add coriander and mix well.
Place bell peppers and tomatoes in the baking dish and spread evenly.
Now pour the egg mixture over the bell peppers and tomatoes.
Bake in the oven till completely cooked and brown on the top.

Serve hot or warm with some toast.

Capsicum Lemon Rice Recipe| Easy Rice Recipes

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I ve seen many a kid screw up his nose when the poor thing called mommy announces that it s lemon rice for lunch. Seriously, i dont know what kids have against this tangy rice that can only taste delicious when eaten with crispy roasted potatoes. Kids. They really dont know what they want. And they definitely dont know what they are missing in all their million rejections.

Now, i have a different way of making lemon rice. In fact more than one way. I experiment often with a single recipe, changing an ingredient here and there or adding something and removing something. This version of my lemon rice is something that i learnt from my landlady in Bangalore. This was probably the only breakfast that i ate and as well as packed for my lunch. I m sure you all have a version too. But give mine a shot if you feel bored of your version sometime or if you have a kid that screws up his nose too often.

Recipe For Capsicum Lemon Rice
( Rice cooked with capsicum and nuts and flavored with lemon)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Serves 2
Allergy Info: Vegan

Ingredients

Cooked rice 2 c
Onion 1 large chopped finely
Capsicum 1 large chopped finely
Green chilies 10 to 12 slit lengthwise
Peanuts a handful
Curry leaves a sprig
Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp
Hing a small pinch
Lemon juice from 1 lemon
Salt to taste
Oil 2 tbsp
Mustard seeds 1 tsp
Urad dal 1 tsp
Chana dal 1 tsp
Coriander leaves 2 tbsp chopped finely

Directions

In a pan, heat oil and pop the mustard.
Now, add urad dal, chana dal, peanuts, curry leaves, hing, turmeric powder and saute till dals turn a golden brown.
Add the onions and capsicum next and saute till onions turn a golden brown.
Now add cooked rice and salt and mix well.
Switch off the flame and add lemon juice.
Mix again.
Garnish with coriander leaves and mix well.

Serve hot with any curry of your choice.

Roasted Cherry Tomato Pesto Recipe| Pesto Recipes

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I ve always considered pesto to be the western counterpart of our chutneys. But it took me a while to get used to the idea of grinding together some herbs, garlic and nuts to a fine paste. Well, lets just say, i woke up to Pesto a little late. But oh, there s no turning back now. I m addicted to pesto, this roasted cherry tomato pesto in particular. It tastes good just about with anything, sandwiches, parathas, pasta and what not. I recently made a pasta with this pesto and i regretted not making more of it. Enough said?

Recipe For Roasted Cherry Tomato Pesto
( Pesto with cherry tomatoes roasted in the oven)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Yields 1/2 cup

Ingredients

Cherry tomatoes 1 c
Almonds 1/4 c
Chives 1 stalk chopped finely
Garlic  3 cloves
Parmesan cheese 1 tbsp grated
Mixed dry herbs 1 tsp
Pepper powder 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil 2 tbsp

Directions

Preheat oven to 180 c.
Line a baking tray with foil.
In a bowl, toss together tomatoes, herbs, salt and pepper.
Spread them evenly on the lined tray and bake for 30 mins until tomatoes wilt and the skin shrivels.
Cool completely.
In a blender, combine tomatoes, almonds, cheese, garlic and chives and blend to a smooth paste. You wont require any water as the water in the tomatoes will help in the grinding. Just stop the blender once in between and give it a mix and then blend again.
Transfer to a clean air tight container and store in the fridge.

Use as a pasta sauce or as a spread on sandwiches or parathas.

Sweet Ragi Puttu

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We love millet here. All kinds. Foxtail, finger, pearl and what not? While Mr.P doesnt like ragi roti much, he likes eating crunchy crispy ragi dosa. So i make it quite frequently. As you all know,i m always on the lookout for easy breakfast options. I also try to include millet in my morning breakfast menu. While we are not champions of breakfast here, we do enjoy a hearty and scrumptious breakfast once in a while. This sweet ragi puttu can be called that- hearty, scrumptious and healthy. And it can be made in a jiffy. Believe me. It is zero oil. And even though i ve used clarified butter for my version, you can skip it and make it zero oil or zero ghee. It tastes as much delicious without it too. In case you dont find jaggery where you live, please feel free to substitute with sugar. Kids will love this for breakfast and as an after school snack too.

Recipe For Sweet Ragi Puttu 
( steamed finger millet flour flavored with coconut and cardamom)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Serves 2 
Allergy Info: Can be made vegan, gluten free

Ingredients

Ragi flour (finger millet flour) 1.5 c
Water as required
Jaggery 3/4 c powdered finally
Freshly grated coconut 1/2 c
Cardamom 1 pod crushed
Clarified butter (ghee) 1 tbsp (optional)

Directions

In a mixing bowl, place the ragi flour.
Sprinkle water by the tablespoon and mix the flour into a crumbly mass. Dont add too much water. The mixture should not bind or come together in one mass. It must resemble something like bread crumbs.
Transfer this on to idly plates or your steamer and steam for 15 mins.
Once done, remove from heat and place in the bowl.
Add the powdered jaggery, coconut and cardamom to this and mix well.
Add 1 tbsp ghee and mix again.
Serve hot with some more ghee or as it is.

Yummy and healthy breakfast done.
We are beginning our second year s journey of Avant Garde Cookies group this month. Our theme for this week is traditional rural foods. And this ragi puttu is my contribution to the theme.

Black Eyed Bean Burger Recipe| Burger Recipes

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I still remember how frenzied i was, when i went to Mc Donalds for the first time. But i m an odd man out here. I couldnt understand the hype with Mc Donalds. I ve eaten burgers in many places and Mc Donalds burger is certainly not my favorite. There s one burger that still stays in my heart. A burger that did not taste of artificial food flavors and preservatives. A burger made specially with fresh home baked burger buns and patties straight from the skillet. Crunchy cucumber slices and juicy tomatoes slathered with butter and a spicy spread. Ooh. Boy! I remember that burger to its every last detail. Even the little cherry that came on the top along with the toothpick. I ve not had the fortune to eat one such burger after i left Bangalore. Oh, all that deliciousness came for a sum of 35 rupees. Can you believe that? Now, do you all get why i am not starry eyed when its Mc Donalds.

Now, i ve been wanting to recreate that burger experience at home , like forever, now. And the last month, Groovy Gourmets decided the September theme as burgers without the humdrum aloo patties. So, i grabbed the opportunity and made these burgers with black eyed beans patties. I did not bake the buns as i dint have the time to. But i do have a spectacular recipe here for burger buns. So, go ahead and bake them if you got  the time. A burger with home baked buns has its own charm. We are not great fans of fries at home. So i just served my burger with some potato wafers.

Recipe For Black Eyed Bean Burger
( Burgers with black eyed bean patties)

Prep Time: Overnight for soaking the beans
                 10 mins for the rest
Cook Time: 1 hour
Yields 3 to 4 burgers

Ingredients

For The Pattice

Black eyed beans 3/4 c soaked overnight
Potato 1 medium peeled and boiled.
Bread slices 3
Ginger garlic paste 1 tsp
Cumin powder 1/2 tsp
Chili powder 1 tsp
Garam masala 3/4 tsp
Coriander powder 1/2 tsp
Corn flour 2 tbsp
Coriander leaves 3 tbsp chopped finely
Salt to taste

Flour 1/4 c
Water 3/4 c
Bread crumbs for rolling
Oil to shallow fry

For The Spread

Cream cheese 3 tbsp
Thousand island spread 2 tbsp (optional)
Mixed herbs 1 tsp

For The Assembly

Tomato slices 6 to 8
Cucumber slices 8

Directions

Pressure cook black eyed beans and potato until mushy.
Drain water completely.
Place beans, potato, coriander leaves, corn flour and all spice powders with salt in a mixing bowl.
Dunk the bread slices in a bowl of water, squeeze all the water out and add to the bowl.
Now, knead into a dough sort of mixture until all ingredients are combined well.
Check for seasoning and adjust.
Divide the patty mixture into 4 equal parts and shape each part into a round patty that s 1/2″ thick.
Heat a pan with some oil for shallow frying.
In a bowl, combine flour and water into a mixture.
Dunk a patty into the flour mixture and make sure its coated well.
Now roll the patty into the breadcrumbs making sure its evenly coated.
Drop the patty into the pan and fry till golden brown.
Repeat with the remaining patties.
Lets assemble the burger now.
In a bowl, combine together cream cheese, herbs and thousand island dressing ( if using).
Take a bun and slit into half horizontally.
Spread the cheese mixture on the bun halves.
Place a patty on one half of the burger.
Place tomato slices and cucumber slices on the patty.
Drop another 1/2 tbsp of spread on the cucumber slices.
Now cover with the remaining half.
Repeat for the remaining burger buns and patties.

Serve warm or hot with potato fries and any drink of your choice.

Vegan Zucchini Brownies Recipe

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OK. Hold your breath. Because i m going to give you some brownies that you can munch on without any guilt. I mean all that butter guilt. These brownies are healthy in almost every which way you can think of. Almost because its got sugar but hey! a brownie has to be sweet or it wont be a brownie.  When i saw these zucchini brownies whilei was doing my regular recipe reading,i was impressed. Buti went on and made a few more changes to the recipe andi will tell you what. You can eat this brownie sans guilt!

Recipe For Vegan Zucchini Brownies
( Learn how to make Vegan Zucchini Brownies, a guilt free brownie recipe with no oil, no butter and no eggs)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Yields 16 2″ squares
Allergy Info: Vegan

Ingredients

Whole wheat flour 1/2 c (64g)
All purpose flour 1/2c (64g)
Cocoa powder 1/4 c
Baking soda 3/4 tsp
Cocoa chips 1/2 c

Salt a pinch

Caster sugar 3/4 c ( you may need more if your bananas are not sweet)
Banana puree 1/2 c
Finely grated zucchini 1 c
Vanilla extract 1/2 tbsp

Directions

Preheat oven to 175 C (350 F) for 10 mins
In a mixing bowl, combine all the dry ingredients except sugar and combine thoroughly making sure that the flour coats the chocolate chips evenly.
In another bowl, place sugar, zucchini, banana puree and vanilla extract and mix well. You will notice that the zucchini turns the sugar liquid once they both are combined.
Add the dry ingredients to this wet mixture and whisk well. Dont worry about the brownie becoming too dense.
Grease an 8″x 8″ cake pan with some oil and line with parchment paper.
Pour the brownie batter into the pan and spread evenly with a spatula.
Drop the pan gently on the counter once to get rid of any air bubbles.
Bake in the preheated oven for 25 mins to 30 mins until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
Mine took 30 mins to get done but keep an eye from the 25th min onwards.
Once done, remove and let cool completely or for atleast an hour before you slice them into bars.

Keeps well for a week when refrigerated.

Badushah Recipe| Festival Sweet Recipes

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Ok. I admit. I m not a fan of badushah. In fact, i m not a fan of anything sweet. Not much. I love hot, spicy food which will have my eyes watering and my tongue burning. Getting the point, arent you? So, when Mr. P casually remarked one day, that he likes badushah and that its been a while since he had eaten one, i thought, i must try my hands at these sugary pillows. But mind you, i always have a list as long as the Nile. A list of recipes that i have to try and this badushah sort of figured in the last on the list. Then how did it climb up to the top, you may ask. That s because i had a crazy craving an afternoon to make them. It was a deep deep uncontrollable desire that kept rising up no matter what i did. Even a book did not help. So i decided to make them anyway. And i m really really glad that i did. They were a delight to munch on and Mr.P enjoyed them thoroughly. 

Recipe For Badushah ( Balushahi)
( Flour dumplings deep fried and dunked in sugar syrup)

Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 45 mins
Yields 12 pieces

Ingredients
For the badushah:
All purpose flour 1 c
Ghee 1/4 c melted 
Fresh Yogurt 1/3 c whisked
Sugar 2 tbsp
Salt a pinch 
Baking soda 1/2 tsp
Baking powder 1/8 tsp
Water 2 tbsp
Oil for deep frying
For the sugar syrup
Suagr 1 c
Water 1/3 c
Cardamom pods 4 crushed coarsely 
Directions
In a pan, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar and whisk well.
Now, add ghee to this mixture and rub it into the flour until crumbly.

At this stage, add the yogurt and knead to a smooth supple dough. In case the dough is dry and difficult to knead use the 2 tbsp water mentioned by the tbsp.
Once you knead the dough, cover with a damp kitchen towel and let rest for 20 mins.
After 20 mins, divide the dough into 12 equal parts and shape them into balls.
Now, flatten them a bit and make a dent in the middle with your thumb. 
Place them on a plate and cover with the damp cloth.
Now, lets get the sugar syrup going.
In a pan, combine sugar, water and cardamom.
Stir continuously and cook till it reaches one string consistency. In the sense, the syrup must coat your ladle completely. Never never leave the syrup unattended. It has the tendency to go from one string to several in  a few mins. 
Once the syrup is done, heat the oil for frying in a pan large enough to accommodate 4 to 5 badushahs.
Pinch a piece of dough and drop into the oil. If it rises up immediately, the temperature s just right to begin frying.
Turn down the heat to the lowest possible.
Drop 4 badushahs into the heated oil.
Once they come up to the top, flip them over.
Now is the hard part. Crank up the heat a bit and wait for them to turn a golden brown. It took me 6 mins to fry one batch.
Once they are golden brown, drain on a kitchen towel.
While they are still warm, drop them in the sugar syrup and let sit for 5 mins. After 5 mins, remove and let the sugar coating dry.
Repeat for the remaining dough.
Store tight in an airtight container.
Keeps well for 3 days. And from here begins my Diwali Sweets And Snacks series for 2013. Look forward to a traditional sweet or snack recipe every month from now. 

Azhagar Kovil Dosai Recipe| Dosa Recipes

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The moment some one says Azhagar Kovil, all i can think of is fragrant jasmines, fluffy idlies and traditionally dressed beautiful women. Which are all synonymous to Madurai. I have yet another thing to add to that list of awesomeness. And that s this Azhagar Kovil Dosai. Now, i dint know that such a dosa even existed a while back. When we decided to have a dosa palooza, this month, i set about searching high and low for the fourth dosa that i would post. I had already zeroed in on my first three which were spring roll dosa, quick tomato dosa and ragi dosa. 

That s when i chanced upon this Azhagar Kovil dosa. It was love at first sight because it had my favorite spice- black pepper. And husked urad dal. And ginger. And curry leaves. More and more reasons for me to love. And it was a super hit with Mr.P too. I mean, all dosas are a super hit with him but he really relished his Azhagar Kovil dosa. Which makes me one super happy girl!

Recipe For Azhagar Kovil Dosa
( Crepes with rice, lentils and spices)

Prep Time: Overnight soaking time
                  20 mins for grinding 
                  4 hours to ferment
Cook Time: 2 to 3 mins for  dosa
Allergy Info: Vegan, Nut Free
Yields 12 dosas.

Ingredients

Par boiled rice 1 c
Husked whole black gram dal (karuppu ulundhu) 1/2 c
Ginger 1″
Pepper corns 1 tbsp
Cumin seeds 1 tsp
Curry leaves a sprig
Salt to taste
Oil to cook the dosa

Directions

Soak rice and dal separately overnight.
The next day, wash thoroughly the rice and dal.
I dint clean the husk in the dal completely.
In a blender, place dal, ginger, peppercorns, cumin and curry leaves and grind to a smooth fluffy paste. Make sure you rest your blender in between.
Remove and transfer to a bowl.
Grind rice to a slightly coarse paste in the blender. Again rest your blender in between and add water as required. I added about 1/3 c of water.
Now, mix both the rice and dal batter together, add salt and let sit for 4 to 5 hours.
This is to ferment the batter. And it will take longer or shorter depending on the weather in your location.
Once the batter has fermented, heat a tawa.
Pour a ladle of batter on the tawa and spread it into a circle that s slightly thicker than the regular dosa.
Drizzle oil along the sides.
Cook till no raw batter is seen on the top.
Flip again and cook for 45 secs more.
Remove from flame.
Repeat with remaining batter.

Serve hot with any chutney of your choice.

Pudalangai Varuval Recipe| Snake Gourd Fry| South Indian Lunch Recipes

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I love love Snake gourd. In fact, i have a thing for all things gourd. Unfortunately, gourds are pretty seasonal where i live. I find snake gourds only around this time of the year and when i do find some, i make the best out of them. While snake gourd kootu remains a family favorite, i ventured a bit further along the cooking line and made snake gourd fries this time. They gave me a whole new reason to love gourds, snake gourd in particular. They were crispy, crunchy and delicious without all those carbs from potatoes or sweet potatoes. And it s breeze to make. So, lets get on to the recipe, shall we?


Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Serves 2 
Allergy Info: Vegan

Ingredients

Snake gourd 1 large cut into juliennes
Curry leaves a sprig
Salt to taste

For The Batter

Gram flour (besan/kadala maavu) 3 tbsp
Rice flour 1 tbsp
Corn flour 1 tbsp
Chili powder 1 tsp
Hing a small pinch
Salt to taste
Water 2 tbsp

Oil for frying

Directions

Sprinkle a little salt on the cut gourd pieces and let rest for 5 mins. After that, squeeze out as much water as you can from the gourd. In a mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients for the batter except water using a whisk.
Now add the snake gourd into this and combine well in such a way that the flour mixture coats the gourd well.
Sprinkle about 1 tbsp of water on the mixture and mix. You should not have a runny mixture. What we need is that the flour coats the gourd. You will have a crumbly mass at the end. In case you find the mixture too dry, add the remaining 1 tbsp water and mix well.
Check for seasoning and adjust if required.
Heat oil in a pan.
Deep fry the gourd pieces in batches till golden brown.
Drain on a kitchen towel.
In the end, fry the curry leaves and mix with the gourd.

Serve hot with spinach garlic dal and tomato rasam

Instant Ragi Dosa Recipe| Finger Millet Dosa

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HOW TO MAKE INSTANT RAGI DOSA?

Instant Ragi Dosa is a quick Dosa made with finger millet flour.

My mother grew up eating a lot of  Ragi. It s traditional to eat ragi mudde and piping hot avarekaalu saaru in Karnataka. And my mom had this fortune. But when they migrated to Tamil Nadu, the tradition was lost. Even to this day, my mom fondly recollects those days when she used to eat ragi mudde drizzled with ghee generously. And she insists on adding pearl millet and other millet to our everyday diet once in a while. Millets are a fabulous option for people who are diabetic or allergic to gluten.

Like most Instant dosa recipes, these Instant Ragi Dosas need some gluten to hold them together.  I have used all purpose flour in this recipe. But you can use whole wheat flour in its place too.

These Instant millet dosas are a brilliant way to incorporate millet into our diets. Millet, apart from being rich in iron are also good in terms of fiber and B complex vitamins. For those of you who are not health freaks, this dosa is an easy to put together breakfast option and can be had as it is.

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Instant Ragi Dosa

Instant Ragi dosas made with finger millet flour and rice flour. Crisp and lacy, they make a great breakfast or dinner too.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time3 minutes
Course: Mains
Cuisine: Indian- South

Ingredients

  • Finger millet flour 1 c
  • All purpose flour 1/2 c
  • Rice flour 1/2 c
  • Sour butter milk 4 to 5 c
  • Green chilies 10 to 12 chopped finely
  • Coriander leaves 1/4 c chopped finely
  • Salt to taste
  • To Temper
  • Oil 1 tbsp
  • Mustard seeds 1 tsp
  • Cumin seeds 1 tsp
  • Hing 1/4 tsp
  • Oil for cooking the dosas

Instructions

  • In a mixing bowl, combine all the flours and whisk thoroughly.
  • Add butter milk to the mixture and mix well until there are no lumps in the mixture.
  • Your batter must be runny. It must flow freely when you lift and pour a ladle. Depending on the consistency, you may need more or less of the quantity of the buttermilk mentioned.
  • Add salt, green chilies and coriander leaves and mix well.
  • Rest the batter for 20 mins.
  • After that, heat a pan with oil.
  • Pop the mustard seeds and crackle the cumin seeds.Now add hing and transfer this to the batter.
  • Heat a tawa.
  • Now, pour a ladle of the batter starting from the outer edge and go on to fill the center.
  • Drizzle oil around the edges of the dosa.
  • Cook on low flame until the sides crisp up.
  • Flip over and cook the other side too.
  • Serve hot with roasted garlic coconut chutney

Notes

The batter has to be runny or you wont get holes on the dosa and it wont crisp up.
Cook the dosa on low flame as it tends to burn easily and quickly.

For Instant Pot & Air Fryer Recipes

Instant Pot timings may vary based on your geographic location. Air fryer settings and timings may vary based on the capacity and the model of the Air fryer.

Disclaimer

Nutrition values are provided here as a courtesy and are only a rough guide. Please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns.

Tried this recipe?Mention @tomatoblues or tag #tomatoblues!

Rose Yogurt Panna Cotta Recipe| Dessert Recipes

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The internet is spilling with recipes that can be made in a jar. One sees what not in a jar? Brownie mix, trail mix, crumbles, pies, cobblers and even bread. Canning and Pickling in jars are a thing of the past now. We are the smart women clique who do everything in a jar. This month s Recipe Redux challenge was to put a jar to a delicious culinary use. And i chose to make dessert in a jar.

I have a fetish for desserts. And desserts that are not loaded with butter or clarified butter sings to me, ” Come on, baby! ” all the time. What i love about desserts in a jar is that they are controlled portions and totally mess free. Now, coming to Panna Cotta. The Italians sure do know their desserts. When it comes to picking one dessert, it will be panna cotta for me. I came across yogurt panna cotta a while back while i was scouring for panna cotta recipes. I was tempted to make it even way back then but cardamom and mango were almost having affairs with me. So, i let the thought be, only to make it happen with this month s challenge to whip up something delish and relish in a jar. I was simply amazed at how simple ingredients like cream, milk, sugar and yogurt can give one a high. Need i say more?

Recipe For Rose Yogurt Panna Cotta
( Panna cotta made with yogurt)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Setting Time: 8 hours or overnight in the fridge
Serves 2 very generously
Allergy Info: Gluten free, Grain free

Ingredients

Thick fresh yogurt 200 g
Milk 1/2 c
Cream 2 tbsp
Sugar 1/4 c
Dried rose petals 2 tbsp (the edible kind)
Rose water 1 tbsp
Rose extract 1 tsp
Gelatin  2 tsp
Cold water 1 tbsp

Directions

In a small bowl, bloom the gelatin by mixing with 1 tbsp cold water and resting for 10 mins. The gelatin would have become jelly like after 10 mins.
In a pan, combine sugar, cream and milk and heat until it comes to a rolling boil. Switch off flame and let cool completely.
Whisk the yogurt well making sure there are no lumps.
Add rose water and rose extract to the yogurt and mix.
Once the milk mixture is cool, add the dried rose petals.
Take about 2 tbsp of the milk mixture and add to the gelatin. Mix thoroughly, stirring with a whisk.
Add this to the yogurt and mix well.
Now, add the milk mixture to the yogurt. You have to be careful here. Do not add the yogurt to the milk mixture.
Pour into jars and let set overnight.

Serve cold as is or topped with any fruit gelee of your choice.

Now here s what others whipped up for this month s Recipe Redux. Please note that this linky tool is only for Recipe Redux members and all other Non Recipe Redux member link ups shall be deleted.

Mini Meal | Lunch Thali Ideas

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Honestly, i am so not a thali person. Now, if you all are wondering what this thali is, it s nothing but meals replete with so many curries and dals served on a huge platter in most Indian restaurants. Its for the hearty, the brave and the hungry. I dont fit any of those bills. Whenever we visit a resaturant, Mr. P orders for a thali if it sounds appealing to him. As for me, i m sure to order something from the a la carte menu to pick at. The sight of a thali makes my tummy full. Which is why, i have never, ever made a thali at home. Even though the regular lunch spread can make a small decent thali. You know, with cups that you can actually count and finish eating from.

Starting from top left, Kalkandu Sadam, Carrot Rice, Capsicum Lemon Rice, Coconut Rice, Curd Rice And Chili Idli.  Raita In The Middle

Like i mentioned before, our Cookies group is celebrating the anniversary this month. While we all made cakes and cookies for week 1 and week 2 respectively, we did the bravo thing for week 3. Yes, you guessed right. We all decided to put together a thali meal for week 3. I m proud to say that this thali is my first on the blog and surprisingly, i enjoyed putting it together very much. Because we are only two poor souls living under this roof, i decided to keep it simple and make a mini meal. Now, if you ask me what a mini meal is, i d say it is for the fast and the frantic. People who want to eat on the go. People who dont have the time to sit down to eat a proper lunch and yet they wouldnt want to eat granola bars for lunch. Its for those kinds. I usually make the regular sambar, curry and rasam platter for lunch. That s why i picked this mini meal idea. Something that i can eat and Mr.P can enjoy too. While the menu may look extensive and time consuming, its truly not. I made all of it in an hour flat. Its just that it requires some kind of organised cooking. But it really is a treat to indulge in. Either a relaxed lunch or a Sunday brunch, this mini meal works wonders.

Mini Meals- A Lunch Thali Idea
( A platter of flavored rice and one starter)

Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Makes 1 mini meal 

What It Has?

Carrot rice1 serving Recipe Here
Curd rice1 serving Recipe Here 
Kalkandu Sadam 1 serving
Capsicum lemon rice 1 serving
Coconut Rice 1 serving
Chili idli 1 serving Recipe Here
Onion Raita 1 serving

I have posted the recipes for carrot rice, curd rice and chili idli. I shall post the recipe for kalkandu sadam, capsicum lemon rice and coconut rice in the coming weeks.

Chili Idli Recipe| Leftover Ideas

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The first time i ate Chili Idli back home, i was twelve and i did not fancy idlies much. Had i known they were idlies, i wouldn’t even have bothered to take a look. But idlies disguised in fiery indo chinese flavors sure did flatter the twelve year old me. Chili idli is something that i still order when i go to Annapurna, probably my favorite restaurant in the whole universe. Of course, they cater very well to that south indian in me. I recently made more idlies than i could manage to eat. Mr.P wanted dosas that day and so we were left with more idlies than two could eat at once. While i did want to make scrambled idli upma, this chili idli craving kicked in and so i caved.

I made it for a lunch thali that i served. And Mr. P dint even realise that its idli. Lets recall for the millionth time that Mr.P religiously hates idlies. It tasted delicious with some onion raita and it even complemented the other dishes in the thali.

Recipe For Chili Idli
( Rice and lentil cakes stir fried the chinese way)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Serves 2 generously 
Allergy Info: Vegan

Ingredients

Idlies 4 to 5 cut into 8 pieces each
Onion 1 large chopped finely
Tomato 1 large chopped finely
Green bell pepper 1 medium chopped finely
Spring onions 1 stalk chopped finely ( both white and green)
Ginger garlic paste 1 tsp
Soy sauce 1 tbsp
Chili sauce (red or green, both work well) 2 tbsp
Fennel seeds 1 tsp
Coriander powder 1/2 tsp
Oil 1/2 c
Salt to taste

For Garnish

Spring onion greens 1 tbsp
Onion rings a few
A lemon wedge

Directions

Heat 1/2 c oil in a pan.
Fry the idli pieces till golden. Drain on a kitchen towel and set aside.
Remove all of the oil from the pan except for maybe a tbsp.
Add the fennel seeds and once they crackle, add the onions and spring onions now..
Fry the onions till transparent and add the capsicum.
Saute for 30 secs.
Now, add the ginger garlic paste and saute for another 30 secs.
Follow with coriander powder and cook for 30 secs.
Now, add the tomatoes and mix well. Cook till oil separates from the mixture.
Add the sauces and mix well.
Add the fried idlies and salt.
Mix well.
Cook further for a min.
Garnish with chopped spring onion greens.

Serve hot with a lemon wedge and onion rings. We enjoyed it with some onion raita on the side.

Quick Tomato Dosa Recipe| Dosa Recipes

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As a South Indian, inside and out, i have a thing for dosas and idlies alike. I m always looking for different dosa recipes or some simple tweaks that can take the regular dosa to a new level. I dont like much grinding or roasting or sauteeing. And i am not fond of slaving in the kitchen as well. That s probably why you wont find many authentic tamil recipes here. I somehow like to keep things simple and yet delicious. Healthy is another thing totally. So, when we decided to have a dosa palooza this month in our pans, this quick tomato dosa that i make once in a while came to my mind instantly. The recipe is no fuss, quick and doesnt even require any chutney or sambar.

Tomato Dosa, Idli Podi And Cantaloup Juice- A hearty breakfast

Recipe For Quick Tomato Dosa
( Tomato flavored lentil crepes)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 2 mins for a dosa
Yields about 6 dosas
Allergy Info: Vegan, Gluten free

Ingredients

Dosa batter 2 cups
Coriander leaves 1/4 c chopped finely
Cumin seeds 1.5 tsp
Grated ginger 1 tbsp

To Grind

Tomatoes 3 largish ripe ones
Green chilies 4 to 5
Garlic 2 cloves
Salt to taste

Directions

In a blender, blend together tomatoes, green chilies, salt and garlic to a fine paste. Avoid adding any water as this will make the batter very runny.
Now, add this paste to the batter.
Add coriander leaves, cumin seeds and grated ginger to the batter and mix well.
Heat a tawa.
Pour 1/3 c of the batter onto the tawa and spread into a thin circle all over the tawa.
Drizzle oil around the edges.
Cook till the upper side is done. Now flip over drizzle oil and cook for a min more.

Serve hot as it is or with some yogurt and idli podi.
This is dosa 2 in the palooza. I previously posted Spring Roll Dosa which is dosa 1. Do check out radhika and roshni for their delicious dosas.

P.S My dosa is not slightly reddish because i used orangish tomatoes. I only had them on hand. If you use ripe red dosas, you will have reddish dosas.

Fruit And Nut Salad Recipe| Salad Recipes| Dessert Recipes

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If you all think this is a regular fruit in custard salad recipe, wait a moment. Because, all fruit salads need not be drenched in cream or custard to be yummy. This fruit and nut salad is a fine example of that. I am not a big fan of custard. And i owe that to a few people who have made runny custards and dunked their fruits in. I like my custard rich, thick and creamy. Correction. I used to like it that way. But ever since i made my filipino fruit salad, i ve never looked at a fruit salad that has custard. I like mine the filipino way or this way. Now, if you are wondering what this way is, then read on.


Recipe For Fruit And Nut Salad
( Fruits and nuts in a hot and sweet dressing)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: Nil
Serves 2 generously 
Allergy Info: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Apple 1 small cored and cubed
Banana 1 sliced thinly
Sapodilla 1 peeled and cubed
Pomegranate pearls 1/2 cup
Plum 2 pitted and chopped
Orange 1 small segmented and seeds removed*
Dates 7 pitted and chopped into pieces
Raisins 2 tbsp
Roasted nuts a handful ( I used a combo of almonds, pistachio and walnuts)

For The Dressing

Honey 3 tbsp
Lemon juice 1 tsp
White pepper powder 1/2 tsp

Directions

In a mixing bowl, combine honey, lemon juice and pepper and mix well till emulsified.
Add the fruits and nuts and toss well.
Refrigerate for an hour.

Serve cold as it is or with some ice cream.

* I dint have an orange on hand when i made this salad last time. But i ve tried using orange in this and it gives a real kick.
You can omit the plums if you want.
Addition of a few berries would also be a good idea.
Use molasses for a vegan version.

Spring Roll Dosa Recipe| Dosa Recipes

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After salads for the last month s Palooza, we decided to have a dosa palooza this month. The first in the dosa palooza series is this Spring Roll Dosa. Now, this is one dish which justifies Indo Chinese cuisine in every sense. Have you ever imagined spring rolls and dosa? Well, its something that s sold as hot cakes on the streets of Mumbai and its very popular with the teens. While i love plain dosa, i m not a very big fan of the regular masala dosa. I always pick a filling which is anything but potatoes. This spring roll dosa caught my eye when i was browsing through a cookbook recently . I tweaked it a bit and it was just as delicious. Makes a filling dinner or breakfast and its a fabulous way to use up leftover noodles.

Recipe For Spring Roll Dosa
( Lentil Crepes Filled With Spring Roll Stuffing)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 2 mins for each dosa
Makes 6 dosas
Allergy Info: Vegan

Ingredients

Dosa Batter 3 c( refer notes)
Vegetable Hakka Noodles 1.5 c
Onion Tomato Chutney 1/2 c
Spring onions 4 tbsp chopped finely
Oil 3 tbsp

For Serving 

Chettinad Tomato Chutney
Roasted Garlic Coconut Chutney
Sambar ( recipe soon!)

Directions

Heat a tawa.
Pour 1/2 c of dosa batter on the tawa and spread into a thin circle starting from the center and going to the edges.
Drizzle about 1/4 tbsp oil on the sides.
Once you see no raw batter on the dosa and the sides have crisped up, flip and cook for 45 secs. Drizzle another 1/4 tbsp of oil.
Once done, flip over. Reduce the flame to the lowest.
Smear about 1 tbsp of chutney evenly on the dosa.
Sprinkle some spring onion on the dosa.
Place about 1/4 c of noodles on end of the dosa.
Now roll up the dosa.
Remove from heat and cut into three pieces with a sharp edged spatula.
Serve immediately with chutneys and sambar.

P.S This dosa tastes good only when served immediately.
You can make the noodles and chutneys ahead.
For making dosa batter, click on the link mentioned in the ingredient list.

Coconut Cardamom Cookie Recipe| Eggless Cookies

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I cant believe its half the month gone by already. Boy! i can never get too much time. Its week 2 of our anniversary month in the cookies group. For the first week, we all made delish cakes. Do check our delicious cakes- Jamaican Banana Layer cake from me, a classic vanilla sponge cake with chocolate frosting by Radhika,  a beautiful creative dino cake that roshni baked for her son’s birthday, tres leches cake that Jayanthi made with full of whipped cream goodness and an Oreo Cream Cake that s such a cool cake by Kavi. We decided to bake cookies for week 2 to justify our Avant Garde Cookie selves completely. Keeping in tune with that, i baked some coconut cardamom cookies. Something that i ve been wanting to make for so long and this anniversary was a perfect time for that.

Recipe For Coconut Cardamom Cookies
( Egg less cookies with coconut and cardamom flavors)

Prep Time:  10 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Yields 15 cookies
Allergy Info: Nut free, Egg free
Source: Loosely adapted from here

Ingredients

Flour 64 g (1/2 c)
Unsalted Soft Butter 50 g (3 tbsp+ 1 tsp)
Caster sugar 60 g
Dessicated coconut 50 g
Cold milk 1 tbsp
Cardamom powder 1 tsp
Vanilla extract 1/2 tsp
Baking powder 1/2 tsp
Salt a pinch
Pistachios 15 shelled for topping

Directions

Preheat your oven to 180 C.
In a mixing bowl, cream together sugar and butter until fluffy.
Add vanilla to this and whisk again.
Now add cardamom powder, milk,coconut and flour. Mix well until the dough just comes together.
If you find the dough crumbly, add some more milk but not more than 1/2 tbsp.
Grease a baking tray with parchment paper.
Now, scoop portions out of the dough using a cookie scoop or a tablespoon.
Shape into balls.
Place on baking tray.
Gently press a pistachio each on a cookie dough ball.
Bake for 15 mins or till tops turn golden.
Let cool completely before removing from the baking tray.

Serve with hot tea or cold milk.

Vegetable Hakka Noodles Recipe| Indo Chinese Recipes

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Now, noodles. What can i say except that most of us have lived on the ubiquitous life saving Maggi for a while now. I m an odd man in this respect though. Oh, i like my bowl of maggi alright but Hakka Noodles is what makes go weak in the knees. I love love hakka noodles and i order it every time we go to a chinese restaurant here. Of course, i dont get hakka there but we get Singapore noodles and that s enough to sate my craving.

But making hakka noodles at home proved quite a challenge to me for a while. You see, the drama of making hakka noodles in my house usually unfolds in this way- i spot a packet of noodles at my grocers’ and almost do a war dance ( Mr.P raises two eyebrows in disgust, of course!) I come home, chop all the veggies. Bring a really really large pot of water to boil. ( apparently to cook the noodles in). And then when the water starts boiling, i dunk the noodles in. Now begins the theatrical. Somehow, almost no noodle company has ever managed to convince me that three or four minutes is enough to cook a bundle of noodles. So, i begin testing the noodles, dunking my slotted spoon in and out. In and out. In and out. And so it goes on. And finally when i m actually convinced, ( i become convinced only when i lift a noodle out and it seems translucent to me. Dont ask why but that s the way it is or rather was, until recently), i switch off the stove.
Drain the water, rinse the noodles under cold water only to find that they have all turned to a mush. Of course, i overcooked it. Now, this has happened not once, not twice but more than ten times in my kitchen.
But folks, i did not lose heart. This time, i was determined to switch off the stove the third minute. Okay, i cheated a bit and switched it off the fourth minute, immediately washed it under cold water and smeared oil into them after spreading them on a plate. And my my, i really stood back and admired the fine noodle work that i had done. What beautiful non sticky perfectly cooked noodles i had in front of me. I almost whistled and set to work with my hakka noodles. So here s my recipe!

Recipe For Vegetable Hakka Noodles
( Chinese noodles cooked with veggies and sauces)

Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Serves 2 generously

Ingredients

Chinese noodles 200 g
Onion 2 med half moon sliced thinly
Carrot 1 med peeled and julienned
Beans 15 med ones chopped into bite size pieces
Cabbage 1/2 c chopped finely
Capsicum 2 med chopped finely
Spring onions 2 stalks chopped finely
White pepper 1.5 tsp
Red chili sauce 1 tbsp
Green chili sauce 2 tbsp
Soy sauce 1 tbsp
Tomato ketchup 2 tbsp
Salt to taste
Oil 2 to 3 tbsp

Directions

Cook noodles according to package instructions. Please follow package instructions. Learn from my aforementioned mushy noodle experience. Once done, rinse under cold water, spread on a plate.Drizzle some oil over it and mix well. Set aside.
Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil.
Now drop the carrots and beans in and let sit for 3 mins.
After 3 mins, drain water completely and immediately dunk into ice cold water. This will help retain color and crunch.
Heat a pan with oil.
Add the onions and fry till transparent.
Follow with all the veggies except the spring onions.
Saute for 1 min.
Now, add all the sauces, pepper and salt and mix well. Go easy on the salt as all the sauces have some in them.
Now, add the cooked noodles and combine well.
Cook on the lowest flame possible for 2 to 3 mins to make sure all the flavors get incorporated well.
Now, add the spring onions and mix well.

Serve hot with ketchup or mixed vegetable manchurian
Stay tuned for one more exciting recipe featuring noodles!

Roasted Garlic Coconut Chutney Recipe| Side Dish For Idli& Dosa

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Its quite strange that i never bother to post some simple recipes on the blog. Well, there s an argument from my side. I feel people dont look up blogs for basic or simple recipes. But in the past few days, i ve been proven wrong. And Mr.P reminded me one day about my tendency to tweak some basic recipes and how those reach a totally different level. This chutney is also one such tweaked version of the basic red coconut chutney. You have to believe me on this when i say the chutney does taste incredibly good.

Recipe For Roasted Garlic Coconut Chutney
( Chutney with fresh grated coconut and garlic)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 2 mins
Serves 2 to 3 
Allergy Info: Vegan, Nut free

Ingredients

Freshly grated coconut 1/2 c
Fried gram dal (pottukadalai/chutney paruppu) 2 tbsp
Garlic cloves 4 to 5
Dry red chilies 2
Tamarind pulp 2 tsp
Oil 1 tsp
Salt to taste

For Tempering 

Oil 1 tsp
Mustard seeds 1 tsp
Curry leaves a sprig

Directions

Heat a pan with 1 tsp oil.
Slightly crush the garlic cloves.
 Add the dry red chilies and garlic to the oil and roast them until light brown. Let cool a bit.
In a blender, place the coconut, chutney dal, roasted garlic, tamarind and dry red chilies along with salt.
Add about 2 tbsp water and grind to a smooth paste.
Add more water if you find the chutney too thick.
Heat a pan with a tsp of oil.
Pop the mustard seeds and add the curry leaves.
Now add this to the ground paste.

Voila! your chutney is done.

Carrot Rice Recipe| Rice Recipes

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When i m bored of making a complete South Indian thali (read as sambar, rasam, poriyal and rice), i turn to making a one pot rice dish with some veggies. While the Mr. enjoys vegetable pulao, i do like to make some simple recipes like this carrot rice. This is a hearty meal when served with some tomato raita. The tang in the raita complements well with this sweet and spicy rice. And it makes a fantastic lunchbox item too. There s this carrot pulao that i make once in a while when i m in the mood for all the roasting and grinding but when i need a quick fix, this is the recipe i turn to.

Recipe For Carrot Rice
( One pot meal with carrots and rice)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Serves 2 heartily 
Allergy Info: Vegan, Gluten free

Ingredients

Cooked rice 2 cups
Carrots 2 medium peeled and grated
Onion 1 large chopped finely
Ginger garlic paste 1 tsp
Garam masala 1/2 tsp
Chili powder 3/4 tsp
Cinnamon 1/2″
Cloves 2
Cardamom 1
Fennel 1/4 tsp
Cumin seeds 1/4 tsp
Oil 1 tbsp
Cashews 2 tbsp broken
Salt to taste

For Garnish 

Coriander leaves 2 tbsp chopped finely

Directions

Heat a pan with oil.
Crackle the cumin seeds and throw in the fennel, cloves. cinnamon and cardamom and fry till a light brown.
Now add the cashews and onions and saute till the onions turn a light brown.
Now add the ginger garlic paste and stir well. Saute for 30 secs.
Follow with the chili powder and garam masala and saute for 30 more secs.
Add the grated carrots next and saute till it wilts.
Add cooked rice and salt and mix well.
Cook on low flame for 30 secs.
Garnish with coriander leaves.

Serve hot with any raita of your choice.

Tofu Tikka Masala Recipe| Side Dish For Rotis

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I dont think i would have fretted more than i do for finding an accompaniment for rotis. In my life that is. Come dinner time, i m usually in a frenzy, raking my brains to decide on a dinner menu. We usually eat rotis but then the real task is to make something to dunk the rotis in. This, i m telling you all despite having more than twenty curry and gravy recipes on my space. Imagine my plight. Not that my man is choosy or picky. But then, i like making different gravies and i make it a point not to repeat stuff much.

So, the other day when i made a huge batch of tofu tikka, i had some remaining the next day. So i decided to make some tofu tikka masala. It pretty much works like paneer tikka masala and it made a delicious accompaniment for the garlic naan that i was serving that day. The brownie point is that you can always sub the tofu for paneer and vice versa or use other veggies like cauliflowers and broccoli to make this gravy. It works very well as a filling for wraps too.

Recipe For Tofu Tikka Masala
( Tandoori style cooked tofu in a creamy gravy)

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Serves 2 generously 
Allergy Info: Egg free, Gluten free

Ingredients

Tofu Tikka 1 recipe
Onion 1 large chopped finely
 Garlic 4 to 5 cloves
Ginger 1/2″ bit
Green chili 1
Tomato puree 1/4 c
Oil 1 tbsp
Cumin seeds 1 tsp
Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp
Garam masala 1/4 tsp
Red chili powder 3/4 tsp
Coriander cumin powder 1/2 tsp
Chaat masala a pinch
Cream 1/4 c
Salt to taste

For Tempering 

Onion 1 small chopped finely
Kasuri methi 1 tbsp crushed
Oil 2 tsp

For Garnish

Coriander leaves for garnish

Directions

Grind together the large onion, ginger, garlic and green chili to a fine paste without adding any water.
Heat a pan with oil.
Crackle the cumin seeds.
Now add the ground onion paste and saute till light brown and aromatic. Takes about 2 mins.
Add all the spice powders next and mix well.
Saute for 30 secs.
Add the tomato puree now and mix well.
Cook the mixture till oil separates.
At this point, add the tofu tikka and salt and mix well. Go easy with the salt as the tofu tikka already has some in it.
Add cream finally and mix well.
Let the mixture simmer for about 3 to 4 mins. If you find the mixture too thick, add about 1/2 c of water and simmer for another minute more.
Once done, switch off flame.
Heat another pan with 2 tsp oil.
Add the finely chopped onion reserved for tempering and the kasuri methi.
Fry till onion turns golden brown.
Add this to the gravy.
Garnish with coriander leaves.
Serve hot with any flatbread of your choice.

Works well with a pulao or a biriyani too.

P.S. You can make this a vegan version by avoiding the cream and substituting with cashew curd.

Jamaican Banana Layer Cake

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This Jamaican Banana Layer Cake is my first layer cake. And i was as excited as any one could be. When i began the baking. And this cake defeated most of my beliefs about a layer cake. I ve always thought baking layer cakes are tedious, frosting them is a pain and a layer cake for two people is ludicrous. I was proven wrong. Incredibly wrong. So, believe me when i say, you should not let a layer cake intimidate you. Instead, you have to get in your hands in the batter and intimidate the cake!

Now, i have to tell you all about Marcy Goldman. True to the title, her book, A Passion For Baking, reflects her deep innate passion for baking in every page, in every image and every letter. Its easily a beginners guide and a professional baker s delight. Its hard to find a book that can be both, mind you. It also doubles up as a super baking book for a person like me, hanging in between. You know, the jack of all trades kind?
Our group of  Avant Garde Cookies turned one this month. My! my. I cant believe that we ve been cooking along for a year now. So, we decided to have a blast this month by going overboard with food. We picked baking a layer cake with frosting et al for the first week. And i picked Marcy s book without batting a lash the moment the decision was made. Like i said, i was a little petrified at the thought of making a layer cake and frosting it too. But Marcy makes it sound like eating a cake itself so, i m here with my first cake. I dint want to make a chocolate cake. No, really, with no disrespect to chocolate lovers, i m not a chocolate person. And no, stop staring at the screen as though you are reading a mad woman s journal. Its ok not to be crazy about chocolate. But this one has chocolate frosting. So, i guess i ve made peace with you all.Lets move on to the cake,shall we?

Recipe For Jamaican Banana Layer Cake
( A two layer banana flavored cake with chocolate frosting)

Prep Time: 2 hours including time to frost
Cook Time: 30 mins for the cakes
Serves 7 to 8 generously 
Yields two 6″ round cakes
Source: Loosely adapted from Marcy Goldman s A Passion For Baking

Ingredients

For The Cake
Flour 162 g
Sour Cream:
Amul cream 3/4 c
Lemon juice 1/2 tbsp
Sugar 210 g powdered
Eggs 2 large at room temp
Unsalted Soft Butter 112 g at room temp
Banana puree 1/2 c
Baking powder 2 tsp
Baking soda 1/4 tsp
Vanilla extract 1 tsp
Rum extract 1.5 tsp
Cinnamon powder 1/2 tsp
Salt 1/4 tsp
Dry dessicated coconut 1/4 c divided
Chocolate chips 1/4 c
Banana slices from 2 large bananas.

For The Frosting 

Unsalted soft Butter 1/2 c  (115g)
Confectioner s sugar 2 to 2.5 c
Milk 2 tbsp
Cocoa powder 1/3 c

Directions

Lets make the cakes first.
Take two 6 inch round pans and grease generously. Set aside.
In a mixing bowl, combine cream and lemon juice, whisk and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, sift together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon and whisk well.
Preheat oven to 180 C for 10 mins
In another larger mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar with an electric whisk until fluffy.
Now add the cream and whisk well again until well incorporated.
Break the eggs in next and add the rum and vanilla extract.
Whisk the mixture well until frothy.
Now, add the banana puree and whisk again till incorporated.
To this mixture, add the flour mixture in two batches, folding in the mixture into the wet mix gently every time you add a batch. I used a silicon spatula to fold.
After you add the second batch and you ve folded, make sure you see no dry flour mixture anywhere at the bottom or the sides of the bowl. If you find any, scrape and fold again.
Now, whisk the batter on low speed with an electric beater for about 1 minute until you see folds in the batter.
Once done, add the chocolate chips to the batter and mix. But take care not to over mix the batter or you will have dense cakes.
Pour half the batter into one of the prepaped pans and the other half into the other pan. Your pans must be half full.
Sprinkle the dry desiccated coconut on the top of each pan.
Now, i dint want my cakes to crown. So i covered the tins with a tin foil sheet before i put them for baking.
I would recommend doing this as we ll be frosting our cake.
Once you cover the tin with foil, bake for 30 mins or until a skewer inserted comes clean.
Once done, take out and let cool completely.
Now comes the difficult part. Either to slice away and eat or to let cool further and frost. The choice is absolutely yours but remember the gorgeous chocolate butter cream before you make a choice.
Once the cake cools down, put it in the fridge for a good 3 hours.
Cold cakes are easier to frost.
At the end of the third hour, get started with the frosting.
In a mixing bowl, place the butter, sugar and the cocoa.
Whisk well until fluffy and incorporated. An electric whisk works best for this.
You need to have a thick spreadable consistency of the frosting.
Once the ingredients get mixed well, add the milk and run the whisk on high speed for about 2 to 3 mins.
This is for getting an uber smooth butter cream.
Once done, bring the cakes out.
Place the cakes on an elevated surface on the plate in which you will display the cake. You cant possibly be shifting around the cake easily once you begin frosting it.
Place one cake on the plate.
Now, take about 1/4 c of the icing and spread carefully on the top.
Gently arrange the slice of banana over the iced layer.
Now place the other cake over this.
Now, gently put a dollop of the frosting on the top and spread evenly with a spatula.
When you start frosting the sides, place some frosting on the top of the layer and gently drag down the sides to spread. I apologise for not taking pictures but this is my first time too and i was concentrating completely.
Make sure you cover the entire cake with frosting.
Even out the frosting with a spatula in the end.
You can do something fancy if you have it in you on the top of the cake.
I had some icing remaining and i piped them as roses on the top.
Once done, leave the cake in the fridge for half an hour for the icing to set.
Slice and serve.

P.S.  Use of rum extract and coconut is optional but i wanted the full jamaican impact so opted using the both.
You can also use coffee instead of rum.
The cream may curdle when you add lemon juice but there s no need to panic.